Virent Energy Systems, Inc. is commercializing the Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) process that
allows the generation of hydrogen-rich gas streams from biomass-derived compounds such as glycerol,
sugars, and sugar alcohols. The APR process is a unique method that generates hydrogen from aqueous
solutions of these oxygenated compounds in a single step reactor process compared to the three or more
reaction steps required for hydrogen generation via conventional processes that utilize non-renewable fossil
fuels. The key breakthrough of the APR process is that the reforming of these aqueous solutions is done in
the liquid phase. The patented APR process occurs at temperatures (150
o
C to 270
o
C) where the water-gas
shift reaction is favorable, making it possible to generate hydrogen with low amounts of CO in a single
chemical reactor. Furthermore, the APR process occurs at pressures (typically 15 to 50 bar) where the
hydrogen-rich effluent can be effectively purified using either membrane technology or pressure swing
adsorption technology. The utilization of biomass-based compounds allows the APR process to be a carbon
neutral method to generate hydrogen. In the near term, the feed-stock of interest is waste glycerol that is
being generated in large quantities as a byproduct in the production of biodiesel. Virent has developed the
APR system for on-demand generation of hydrogen-rich fuel gas from either glycerol or sorbitol (the sugar
alcohol formed by hydrogenation of glucose) to fuel a stationary internal combustion engine driven generator
(10 kW). Under a USDOE funded project, Virent is currently developing the APR process to generate high
yields of hydrogen from corn-derived glucose. This project objective is to achieve the DOE 2010 cost target
Virent Energy Systems, Inc. is commercializing the Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) process that
allows the generation of hydrogen-rich gas streams from biomass-derived compounds such as glycerol,
sugars, and sugar alcohols. The APR process is a unique method that generates hydrogen from aqueous
solutions of these oxygenated compounds in a single step reactor process compared to the three or more
reaction steps required for hydrogen generation via conventional processes that utilize non-renewable fossil
fuels. The key breakthrough of the APR process is that the reforming of these aqueous solutions is done in
the liquid phase. The patented APR process occurs at temperatures (150
o
C to 270
o
C) where the water-gas
shift reaction is favorable, making it possible to generate hydrogen with low amounts of CO in a single
chemical reactor. Furthermore, the APR process occurs at pressures (typically 15 to 50 bar) where the
hydrogen-rich effluent can be effectively purified using either membrane technology or pressure swing
adsorption technology. The utilization of biomass-based compounds allows the APR process to be a carbon
neutral method to generate hydrogen. In the near term, the feed-stock of interest is waste glycerol that is
being generated in large quantities as a byproduct in the production of biodiesel. Virent has developed the
APR system for on-demand generation of hydrogen-rich fuel gas from either glycerol or sorbitol (the sugar
alcohol formed by hydrogenation of glucose) to fuel a stationary internal combustion engine driven generator
(10 kW). Under a USDOE funded project, Virent is currently developing the APR process to generate high
yields of hydrogen from corn-derived glucose. This project objective is to achieve the DOE 2010 cost target
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