Sustainable H2 generation via steam reforming of biogas in membrane reactors: H2S effects on membrane performance and catalytic activity

This study proposes the steam reforming of a synthetic biogas stream containing 200 ppm of H2S, carried out in a non-commercial supported Pd–Au/Al2O3 membrane reactor (7–8 μm selective layer thickness) at 823 K and 150 kPa over a non-commercial Rh(1%)/MgAl2O4/Al2O3 catalyst. This system is able to recover almost 80% of the total hydrogen produced during the reaction and shows good resistance to the H2S contamination, as confirmed by stable methane conversions for more than 400 h under operation. For comparison, the same reaction was carried out in a commercial self-supported Pd–Ag membrane (150 μm wall thickness), yielding a hydrogen recovery equal to 40% at 623 K and 200 kPa, and presenting stable methane conversions for less than 200 h under operation due to the effect of the H2S contamination. •The Pd-Au/Al2O3 membrane fully restored the hydrogen permeation capacity after H2S containing biogas stream exposure.•The Pd-Au/Al2O3 membrane reactor recovered over 80% of H2 during the H2S containing biogas steam reforming reaction.•Rh(1%)/MgAl2O4/Al2O catalyst was packed in the membrane reactors to perform the biogas steam reforming reaction.