Catalyst Development for the Efficient Utilization of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Hydrogen Production

Abstract

Renewable lignocellulosic biomass, being a non-edible abundant plant source is a promising renewable energy feedstock for producing biofuels. Hydrogen can be produced from oxygenated hydrocarbons and biomass hydrolysates by aqueous-phase reforming (APR). Biomass plants uses atmospheric CO₂ during growth. Therefore, when a fuel obtained from biomass is utilized for its energy, the CO₂ that will emit to the atmosphere will be equivalent to the CO₂ it has consumed during growrh; i.e. biomass derived fuels are CO₂ neutral. The present study was designed to develop active catalysts for use in Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) of biomass hydrolysates to produce hydrogen rich gas. Reforming catalysts have been prepared by supercritical fluid deposition technique which is an alternative and promising way to deposit metal nanoparticles onto the surfaces of porous solid supports. This technique involves dissolution of the metal precursor in supercritical carbondioxide that is attractive since it is abundant, inexpensive, non-flammable, non-toxic, environmentally benign and than unification of support with precursor. The reduction of precursor to metal performed by heat treatment under an inert atmosphere. The important point for the economic use of supported precious metal catalysts is the recovery, refining and recycling of the metal. This procedure is simplified by the use of  a support for the metals. Wheat straw as one of the most abundant crop residues in the world has been chosen as the lignocellulosic biomass in this study.