Copper promoted Co/MgO: A stable and efficient catalyst for glycerol steam reforming

Different types of cobalt-based mixed oxide catalysts (20 wt%Co/MgO, 5 wt%Cu-20 wt% Co/ MgO, 20 wt%Co/50%MgO-50%Al2O3) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and applied for hydrogen production from glycerol steam reforming. The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), H-2-Temperature-programmed reduction (H-2-TPR), CO2-Temperature Programmed desorption, CO-Chemisorption, and CHN techniques. The H-2-TPR analysis showed the reducibility of cobalt-oxide (5Cu20CM; 5 wt%Cu-20 wt% Co/MgO) was enhanced by the copper, and reduction profiles of cobalt oxide shifted to a lower temperature (<450 degrees C). Among the catalysts, 5Cu20CM showed a maximum yield of hydrogen (74.6%) with 100% conversion of glycerol to the gaseous phase. The superior catalytic performance of 5Cu20CM for glycerol conversion was attributed to the smaller particle size (7 nm), higher dispersion of cobalt (35.0%), and the higher surface area (56 m(2)/ g) of cobalt metal. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy of the spent catalysts confirmed that the copper promoted cobalt-magnesium catalyst suppressed the carbon formation, consequently, 5Cu20CM catalyst showed a stable performance up to 30 h. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

Different cobalt-based mixed oxide catalysts were synthesized and tested for hydrogen production from glycerol steam reforming, with the 5Cu20CM catalyst showing the best performance attributed to its small particle size, high dispersion, and large surface area.