Hydrogen-Rich Gas Production from Municipal Solid Waste via Integrated Pyrolysis and Catalytic Steam Reforming over Ni/Al2O3 Catalyst

The transition to a hydrogen-based economy requires efficient and sustainable technologies to convert waste into clean energy carriers. This study investigates the production of hydrogen-rich gas through the integrated pyrolysis steam reforming (PSR) and integrated pyrolysis (PYR) and catalytic steam reforming (PCSR) of real municipal solid waste (MSW). PCSR experiments were conducted in a two-stage series reactor system: an initial pyrolysis stage at 500 °C followed by a catalytic steam reforming stage at 900 °C over a commercial Ni/Al2O3 catalyst (9.8 wt.% Ni). Three real MSW samples from the Serra Gaúcha region (Brazil) were evaluated: organic-rich (A), polymeric-rich (B), and a mixed real collection fraction (C). Gas yields from PYR to PCSR increased from 0.44 to 1.18 Nm3·kgMSW−1, from 0.66 to 1.54 Nm3·kgMSW−1, and from 0.35 to 1.50 Nm3·kgMSW−1 for (A), (B), and (C) samples, respectively. Hydrogen concentrations of PCSR were between 32% and 39% volume for all samples, with a marked reduction in CH4 and CO levels due to the promotion of water–gas shift and methane reforming reactions over the nickel active sites. The PCSR process using a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst proves to be a highly effective route for maximizing hydrogen production from real MSW, offering a robust technological solution for energy valorization and carbon footprint reduction.