Recent advances in sustainable syngas production by catalytic CO2 reforming of ethanol and glycerol

Abstract

This review focuses on the catalysis of ethanol and glycerol CO₂ (dry) reforming to synthesis gas. Ethanol is currently utilized in the transportation network as a biomass-derived fuel that is added to refinery gasoline. Glycerol emerges as a continuously and undesirably accumulating side product of biodiesel, a trending renewable counterpart of the conventional diesel. Catalytic reforming of ethanol and glycerol with CO₂ offer simultaneous valorization of a greenhouse gas with two renewable and commercially available fuels to synthesis gas, a value-added feedstock for the production of methanol, synthetic fuels and dimethyl ether. For the first time in the literature, catalysts for ethanol and glycerol dry reforming are reviewed on the basis of individual and interactive effects of active species and supports on reactant conversions, yield and composition of syngas, and catalyst stability. Discussions on the catalysts are complemented by the respective thermodynamic aspects. Strategies for promoting efficient transformation of ethanol and glycerol with CO₂ into syngas are presented.