Effects of metal oxide support and non-noble metal active species on catalytic steam reforming of ethanol for hydrogen production

Abstract

Dependence of hydrogen production via the catalytic steam reforming of ethanol on the metal oxide support and first row transition metal catalyst was investigated. Ni supported on CeO2was more easily reduced and began to produce hydrogen at a lower temperature than Ni supported on ZrO2, SiO2, Al2O3, and MgO. Ni/CeO2also maintained a high activity at a constant reaction temperature of 673 K and inhibited carbon deposition. Therefore, CeO2was adopted as the catalytic support. Compared with Ni/CeO2, Fe/CeO2and Mn/CeO2were less active. Contrarily, Co/CeO2was slightly less active at 673 K, but exhibited a comparable hydrogen yield at 873 K. The Cu/CeO2system was reduced more readily and produced hydrogen at a lower temperature, but its activity gradually deteriorated by carbon deposition. Thus we concluded that Ni/CeO2exhibited the best combination of properties with the highest hydrogen yield at 673 K and a long stability.