Hydrogen Production From Crude Bio-oil and Biomass Char by Electrochemical Catalytic Reforming

We reports an efficient approach for production of hydrogen from crude bio-oil and biomass char in the dual fixed-bed system by using the electrochemical catalytic reforming method. The maximal absolute hydrogen yield reached 110.9 g H₂/kg dry biomass. The product gas was a mixed gas containing 72%H₂, 26%CO₂, 1.9%CO, and a trace amount of CH₄. It was observed that adding biomass char (a by-product of pyrolysis of biomass) could remarkably increase the absolute H₂ yield (about 20%-50%). The higher reforming temperature could enhance the steam reforming reaction of organic compounds in crude bio-oil and the reaction of CO and H₂O. In addition, the CuZn-Al₂O₃ catalyst in the water-gas shift bed could also increase the absolute H₂ yield via shifting CO to CO₂.