Bimetallic catalysts performance during ethanol steam reforming: Influence of support materials

• Published in: International journal of hydrogen energy 2009-09, Vol.34 (17), p.7189-7196
• Main Authors: Furtado, Andréia Cristina, Alonso, Christian Gonçalves, Cantão, Mauricio Pereira, Fernandes-Machado, Nádia Regina Camargo
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Conversion; Ethanol; Ethyl alcohol; Hydrogen; Hydrogen storage; Nickel; Ni–Cu/supported catalyst; Reforming; Steam reforming
• ISSN: 0360-3199; 1879-3487
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.06.060

Ni–Cu catalysts supported on different materials were tested in ethanol steam reforming reaction for hydrogen production. These catalysts were evaluated at reaction temperature of 400 °C under atmospheric pressure. The reagents, with a water/ethanol molar ratio equal to 10, were fed at 70 dm 3/(h g cat) (after vaporization). Analysis of the ethanol conversion, as well as evaluation and quantification of the reaction products, indicated the catalyst 10% Ni–1% Cu/Ce 0.6Zr 0.4O 2 as the most appropriate for the ethanol steam reforming under investigated reaction conditions, among the studied catalysts. During 8 h of reaction this catalyst presented an average ethanol conversion of 43%, producing a high amount of H 2 by steam reforming and by ethanol decomposition and dehydrogenation parallel reactions. Steam reforming, among the observed reactions, was quantified by the presence of carbon dioxide. About 60% of the hydrogen was produced from ethanol steam reforming and 40% from parallel reactions.