Investigation on hydrogen production by catalytic steam reforming of maize stalk fast pyrolysis bio-oil

Hydrogen production via catalytic steam reforming of maize stalk fast pyrolysis bio-oil over the nickel/alumina supported catalysts promoted with cerium was studied using a laboratory scale fixed bed coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy/thermal conductivity detection analysis (FTIR/TCD). The effects of nickel loading, reaction temperature, water to carbon molar ratio (WCMR) and bio-oil weight hourly space velocity (WbHSV) on hydrogen production were investigated. The highest hydrogen yield of 71.4% was obtained over the 14.9%Ni-2.0%Ce/A12O3 catalyst under the reforming conditions of temperature = 900 °C, WCMR = 6 and WbHSV = 12 h−1. Increasing reaction temperature from 600 to 900 °C resulted in the significant increase of hydrogen yield. The hydrogen yield was significantly enhanced by increasing the WCMR from 1 to 3, whereas it increased slightly by further increasing WCMR. The hydrogen yield decreased with the increase of WbHSV. Meanwhile, the coke deposition percentage changed little with increasing WbHSV up to 12 h−1 and then it increased by 4.5% with the further increase of WbHSV from 12 to 24 h−1.