FUEL 62 |
| Hydrogen production from biomass was investigated using an integrated biological and thermo chemical process. Glucose was used as a biomass surrogate. Glucose was first converted to ethanol in a fermentation process. The fermentation experiments were carried out using Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The fermentation broth was then used in aqueous phase reforming (APR) over a platinum-based catalyst. The hydrogen obtained from APR of the fermentation broth was compared against the yield from a simulated sample containing 5% pure ethanol. While the catalyst was stable for an extended time on stream during APR of ethanol, very rapid deactivation was observed in the case of fermentation broth. The different catalyst characterization techniques were employed to investigate the causes of catalyst deactivation. The preliminary results indicate that the catalyst is being poisoned by the impurities present in the fermentation broth. These impurities are suspected to be S- and P-containing materials. The effect of S and P on the deactivation of the catalyst is being studied by doping the simulated ethanol mixture with the model compounds such as amino acids containing S and ATP.
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BioFuels: Renewable Liquid Fuels & Chemicals from Biomass
8:05 AM-12:10 PM, Monday, August 20, 2007 Boston Park Plaza -- Arlington Rm, Oral
Division of Fuel Chemistry |