Nickel-Hydroxyapatite as Biomaterial Catalysts for Hydrogen Production via Glycerol Steam Reforming

Nickel-hydroxyapatite as biomaterial catalysts exhibited high activity and selectivity in glycerol steam reforming. The catalytic steam reforming of glycerol (C3H8O3) for the production of hydrogen is carried out over nickel supported on hydroxyapatite [Ca-5(PO4)(3)(OH)] catalyst at 600 degrees C with atmospheric pressure and 120 minute time reaction. The catalysts were prepared by mean of wet impregnation method and varied nickel loadings (3, 6, 12 %) on hydroxyapatite. It is found that the 3% wt% Ni/HAP show higher hydrogen production rate over the other nickel loadings on hydroxyapatite, which is correlated with Ni/HAP catalyst surface area measured by BET adsorbtion and morphology of catalysts. Glycerol steam reforming with water-to-glycerol feed ratio 8/1 much more hydrogen production (77-82%) compared feed ratio 4/1. The catalysts were characterised by BET surface area and SEM-EDX techniques.