Hydrogen generation from liquid reforming of glycerin over Ni–Co bimetallic catalyst

Glycerin is a low cost renewable byproduct of the biodiesel industry, and can be reformed into hydrogen. Here we describe the development of cerium promoted nickel cobalt catalysts on alumina supports for the liquid phase reforming of aqueous glycerine in subcritical water. The bimetallic Ni–Co catalyst was prepared using the urea matrix combustion method over a wide range of compositions both with and without cerium. TPR profiles indicated a synergism between the metals, however, the catalysts deactivated due to carbon deposition as plaques, and in some compositions due to sintering. Cerium (2Ce–Ni1Co3) suppressed sintering and lowered methane selectivity by comparison with Ni1Co3 alone.