Synergistic Ni–Cu/char bimetallic catalysts for enhanced hydrogen production from corn stover bio-oil via steam reforming

Abstract

Catalytic steam reforming of biomass-derived bio-oil offers a promising route for renewable hydrogen production, yet catalyst deactivation and coke formation limit its practical application, particularly for complex whole bio-oils. Herein, hydrogen production from corn stover-derived whole bio-oil was investigated via an integrated fast pyrolysis-steam reforming process using char-supported Ni–Cu bimetallic catalysts. The optimized Ni–Cu composition exhibited enhanced hydrogen yield (∼53%) and feedstock conversion (∼78%), with low carbon deposition compared to monometallic counterparts. Elevated reforming temperatures promoted hydrocarbon cracking and suppressed coke formation. Long-term stability tests demonstrated sustained catalytic performance under steam oxygen reforming conditions. Structural characterization confirmed uniform metal dispersion and preserved catalyst porosity after reaction. The improved performance is attributed to the synergistic interaction between Ni, facilitating C–C bond cleavage, and Cu, enhancing water–gas shift activity and mitigating carbon deposition. These findings highlight the potential of char-supported Ni–Cu catalysts as a robust and coke-resistant system for scalable hydrogen production from real biomass-derived bio-oil.