Virent Energy Systems, Inc. is commercializing the
Aqueous Phase Reforming (APR) process that allows the
generation of hydrogen and mixed alkane gas from biomassderived
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 is done in the liquid phase. The APR process
occurs at temperatures (150°C to 270°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. Virent is currently developing the APR
system for two applications: (1) on-demand hydrogen
generation for PEM & SOFC fuel cells used for recharging
applications (less than 500 watts) and (2) on-demand
generation of hydrogen-rich fuel gas from biomass-derived
glycerol and sorbitol to fuel a stationary internal combustion
engine driven generator (5 kW).