Production of gaseous and liquid chemicals by aqueous phase reforming of crude glycerol: Influence of operating conditions on the process

Remón, J. ; Giménez, J.R. ; Valiente, A. ; García, L. (Universidad de Zaragoza) ; Arauzo, J. (Universidad de Zaragoza)

Resumen: The present work studies the influence of the temperature (200-240 °C), pressure (38-50 bar), glycerol concentration (10-50 wt.%) and mass of catalyst/ glycerol mass flow rate ratio (W/mglycerol = 10-40 g catalyst min/g glycerol) during the aqueous phase reforming (APR) of a glycerol solution obtained from the production of biodiesel. The operating conditions exerted a statistically significant influence on the reforming results. Specifically, the global glycerol conversion and the carbon converted into gas and liquid products varied as follows: 4-100%, 1-80% and 16-93%, respectively. The gas phase was made up of H2 (8-55 vol.%), CO2 (34-66 vol.%), CO (0-4 vol.%) and CH4 (6-45 vol.%). The liquid phase consisted of a mixture of alcohols (monohydric: methanol and ethanol; and polyhydric: 1, 2-propanediol, 1, 2-ethanediol, 2, 3-butanediol), aldehydes (acetaldehyde), ketones (C3-ketones: acetone and 2-propanone-1-hydroxy; C4-ketones: 2-butanone-3-hydroxy and 2-butanone-1-hydroxy; and cyclic ketones), carboxylic acids (acetic and propionic acids) and esters (1, 2, 3-propanetriol-monoacetate), together with unreacted glycerol and water. The relative amount (free of water and un-reacted glycerol) of these compounds in the liquid phase was as follows: monohydric alcohols: 4-47%, polyhydric-alcohols: 14-68%, aldehydes: 0-5%, C3-ketones: 2-33%, C4-ketones: 0-10%, ciclo-ketones: 0-6%, carboxylic acids: 2-43%, and esters: 0-46%. This process turned out to be highly customisable for the valorisation of crude glycerol for the production of either gaseous or liquid products. Gas production is favoured at a low pressure (39 bar), high temperature (238 °C), high W/mglycerol ratio (38 g catalyst min/g glycerol) and employing a 15 wt.% glycerol solution. A high pressure (45 bar), medium temperature (216 °C), medium W/mglycerol ratio (22 g catalyst min/g glycerol) and the feeding of a 16 wt.% glycerol solution favours the production of liquid products.

Idioma: Inglés

DOI: 10.1016/j.enconman.2015.11.070

Año: 2016

Publicado en: Energy Conversion and Management 110 (2016), 90-112
ISSN: 0196-8904

Factor impacto JCR: 5.589 (2016)

Categ. JCR: ENERGY & FUELS rank: 10 / 92 = 0.109 (2016) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: THERMODYNAMICS rank: 2 / 58 = 0.034 (2016) - Q1 - T1
Categ. JCR: MECHANICS rank: 4 / 133 = 0.03 (2016) - Q1 - T1

Factor impacto SCIMAGO: 2.232 - Energy Engineering and Power Technology (Q1) - Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment (Q1) - Nuclear Energy and Engineering (Q1) - Fuel Technology (Q1)

Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/ENE2010-18985
Financiación: info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/ES/MINECO/ENE2013-41523-R

Tipo y forma: Article (PostPrint)

Área (Departamento): Área Ingeniería Química (Dpto. Ing.Quím.Tecnol.Med.Amb.)