Glycerol Reuse for Obtaining Synthesis Gas through Steam Reforming

 Abstract —Glycerol is generated in biodiesel production. Due to its overproduction, it is necessary to find new applications for glycerol. In this work glycerol underwent steam reforming to obtain synthesis gas, using α -alumina as a filling material, and two cylindrical reactors of 5.2 cm of diameter and 30 cm long, installed in series, and controlling temperature and carrier gas flow. There was also a condensation system for the condensable products and a sample collection system for the gas produced. The study of the main variables for this process (particle size, temperature, total flow, water/carbon ratio and nitrogen flow) was carried out. The decrease in particle size, as well as the increase in temperature, had positive effects on synthesis gas production. The total flow of the feed mixture and the water/carbon molar ratio should be regulated, establishing a balance between both parameters. Concerning the nitrogen flow, there was an optimum point from which lower or higher flows worsened the results. Finally, the continuous use of the filling material affected the results, proving that the flow of gas produced decreased over time, and its composition became poorer in hydrogen, reaching a stationary regime where the synthesis gas had similar CO and H 2