Synthesis gas production via hybrid steam reforming of natural gas and bio-liquids

This thesis deals with (catalytic) steam reforming of bio-liquids for the production of synthesis gas. Glycerol, both crude from the biodiesel manufacturing and refined, and pyrolysis oil are tested as bio-based feedstocks. Liquid bio-based feeds could be preferred over inhomogeneous fibrous solid biomass because of their logistic advantages, better mineral balance, and better processability. Especially the ease of pressurization, which is required for large scale synthesis gas production, is another clear advantage of liquid biomass. In addition to this, liquefied biomass contains less contaminants than the biomass from which it originates which will be beneficial with respect to catalyst poisoning. The proposed steam reforming process is a hybrid one (HSR - Hybrid Steam Reforming) in which the bio-liquids are co-reformed with a fossil feed such as natural gas or naphtha. In this thesis, methane as a model compound for natural gas is investigated. By co-reforming, implying partnering with the current fossil-based industry, use is made of the existing infrastructure and markets which should help the introduction of bio-based synthesis gas. At the level of the chemistry, co-feeding may minimize the adverse characteristics of the bio-liquid as has been observed for cofeeding upgraded pyrolysis oil with long residue in a micro Fluid Catalytic Cracking (FCC) unit.