38. Production of Synthesis Gases from Catalytic Steam Reforming of Ethanol and Propane Processes

In this study, steam reforming of ethanol and propane was purposed for production of hydrogen and synthesis gases. In the first stage of this project, ethanol steam reforming reaction studies were carried out at different experimental conditions for production of hydrogen and synthesis gases. In the second stage of this work, propane steam reforming reaction studies at different experimental conditions were performed. At the beginning, a commercial BASF catalyst at different experimental conditions was used for production of synthesis gases, and also, a catalyst with different metal compositions and supports was prepared in department research laboratory and then, it was used for production of synthesis gases under different experimental conditions.

Compositions of synthesis gases over commercial BASF catalyst and compositions of synthesis gases over laboratory-prepared catalyst were compared on the basis of synthesis and hydrogen yields. The determined exit gas compositions for both catalyst studies were identical about hydrogen and synthesis gas yields. However, laboratory-prepared catalyst has longer life, but it has slightly lower activity than commercial BASF catalyst at 300–700 °C. In both ethanol and propane steam reforming reaction measurements, higher hydrogen ratios were obtained at the reactor exit. Hydrogen and synthesis gas compositions are increasing with catalyst amounts at the reactor exit, but other effluent gas compositions were determined in lower ratios with respect to exit hydrogen percentages.

For analysis of kinetics data, similar complex reaction mechanisms were considered for both ethanol and propane steam reforming processes. Ethanol and propane steam reforming reactions are considered to have first-order reaction mechanism. Computed kinetics parameters and related graphs have realized this fact, clearly. According to obtained activation energies related to ethanol and propane steam reforming reactions, we may say that both reactions are chemical reactions controlled over both catalysts with lower diameters and lower catalyst quantities.