Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for producing hydrogen in an aqueous phase reforming process using a water-soluble oxygenated hydrocarbon under improved conditions. The present method can be used to produce hydrogen from glycerol at reduced pressure and significantly increased hydrogen yield.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides reactor systems and methods that use in-line measurement of refractive index for monitoring and controlling a catalytic reaction for hydrogen production. An outcome of the catalytic reaction (e.g., total organic carbon level) can be determined using the refractive index data measured in-line from a product stream. Advantageously, the present reactor system can include a control unit for acquiring in-line refractive index data, determining the reaction outcome, and adjusting the catalyst and/or reaction conditions according to the determined outcome, so that progress of the catalytic reaction can be controlled automatically.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an improved method for preparing a carbon supported Pt—Re catalyst (Pt—Re/C) using a soluble non-chlorinated Pt material as a Pt source. The catalysts prepared by the methods described herein can achieve the same level of catalytic capacity as that of the catalysts prepared by the conventional method using chlorinated Pt precursors.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for regenerating a hydrogenation catalyst with reduced water consumption and/or shortened overall regeneration time. The method can include contacting a fouled hydrogenation catalyst with a first flushing medium comprising water and a gaseous phase comprising oxygen and optionally a second flushing medium comprising water and a gaseous phase comprising at least 90% nitrogen by volume. The method can further include treating the effluents of the flushing mediums by ion exchange resin to remove impurities in the effluents.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides systems and methods for producing a regenerated hydrogenation catalyst used for hydrogenating a biomass feedstock. The method can include a regeneration cycle, in which a fouled hydrogenation catalyst is contacted with (a) a first flushing medium comprising water and a gaseous phase comprising oxygen and (b) a second flushing medium comprising water and a gaseous phase comprising at least 90% nitrogen by volume. In particular, multiple regeneration cycles can be used to improve efficiency in removing sulfur-containing impurities from the fouled catalyst.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods for producing a regenerated hydrogenation catalyst from a fouled hydrogenation catalyst having a total surface area and at least one associated impurity. The method can include maintaining contact between the fouled hydrogenation catalyst and a flushing medium that comprises water, oxygen, and an inert or diluent gas at a regeneration temperature and a regeneration pressure sufficient to remove at least a portion of the at least one impurity from the hydrogenation catalyst to produce the regenerated hydrogenation catalyst, where the regenerated hydrogenation catalyst is characterized as retaining at least 70% of the activity of the hydrogenation catalyst.