Batch Aqueous-phase Reforming of Lignocellulosic Biomass

Aqueous-phase reforming (APR) is a relatively recenttechnology for producing hydrogen frombiomass-derived substrates. Amidst the worldwideconcerns about increasing petroleum prices anddeclining supplies this process has the potential toaddress the need for a readily-available source ofenergy that is renewable and environment-friendly.APR uses temperatures much lower than those used inexisting thermochemical methods for biomass: ~500K asopposed to about 600K to 1100K for pyrolysis andgasification. The reaction occurs in aqueous phase inthe presence of a reforming metal catalyst that cancatalyze both reforming and water-gas shiftreactions. To date known APR studies dealt only withapplying this technology to oxygenated compounds thatwere used to mimic biomass. However it is consideredthat application of APR to real biomass is needed togauge whether this technology can be considered aviable approach for hydrogen production.