Experimental investigation for in-situ hydrogen production by electrochemical reforming of glycerol

•Hydrogen production from glycerol was carried out by electrochemical reforming.•Glycerol, which was formed as a by-product in biodiesel production by transesterification method, was used.•Effect of membrane type and electrode material were examined.•Membrane electrode assembly was created and used in originally designed cubic electrolysis cell.•The impact and role of the shape and type of the current collector were determined. In this paper, hydrogen production from glycerol have been investigated in a cubic electrolysis cell with/without membrane and in the system with membrane electrode assembly (MEA). Membrane and electrode effects on hydrogen production were examined in the electrolysis cell originally designed and manufactured. A constant current density value of about 10 mA/cm2 was recorded in the electrochemical reforming of glycerol in acidic electrolyte conditions in the system using Nafion 117 membrane at room temperature under 2 V constant potential. The highest current density value was reached in the case where the oxidation of glycerol at the anode occurred on the Zn electrode and the hydrogen evolution reaction at the cathode occurred on the Pt electrode. The current density value increased by 24 % using a Pt electrode instead of Zn at the cathode. According to the results of the cathode peak area in the gas chromatography analysis, the highest hydrogen formation was recorded under these conditions. To create MEA, 5.7 mg/cm2 10 % Pt/C (0.57 mg/cm2 Pt) and 5 mg/cm2 Zn were loaded for the cathode and anode respectively. A nozzle-type current collector made of copper material was selected among the current collectors of different geometries and materials used in the electrochemical reforming of glycerol. A constant current density value of approximate 500 mA/cm2 was achieved under the specified conditions and with diverse system improvements.