Electrochemical Reforming of Glycerol in Alkaline PBI-Based PEM Reactor for Hydrogen Production

Abstract

One possible route for glycerol utilisation is through a reforming process in which clean hydrogen can be produced. This study presents the results of an Alkaline Membrane Electroreforming Reactor operated with KOH-doped polybenzimidazole (PBI). Commercial PtRu/C and Pt/C are used as catalysts for the anode and the cathode, respectively. The influence of two important operating variables, the temperature, and the composition of the cathode feed solution is studied. A significant enhancement in the cell performance is observed with the temperature until 90ºC. The highest efficiency for H2 production (comparison with the amount predicted from Faraday’s law) corresponds to a KOH concentration in thecathode feed solution of 2 mol L-1. Logically, higher current densities favours the amount of hydrogenproduced and approaches the experimental values to the theoretical ones. Finally, the analyses of the product distribution show that more oxidized species can be obtained the higher the temperature and the current density, though the main products are C3 organic acids, especially tartronic acid.