The effect of Ni addition onto a Cu-based ternary support on the H2 production over glycerol steam reforming reaction

Abstract

In the present study, Ni/Ce-Sm-xCu (x = 5, 7, 10 at.%) catalysts were prepared using microwave radiation coupled with sol-gel and followed by wetness impregnation method for the Ni incorporation. Highly dispersed nanocrystallites of CuO and NiO on the Ce-Sm-Cu support were found. Increase of Cu content seems to facilitate the reducibility of the catalyst according to the H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR). All the catalysts had a variety of weak, medium and strong acid/basic sites that regulate the reaction products. All the catalysts had very high XC3H8O3 for the entire temperature (400–750◦ C) range; from ≈84% at 400◦ C to ≈94% at 750◦ C. Ni/Ce-Sm-10Cu catalyst showed the lowest XC3H8O3-gas implying the Cu content has a detrimental effect on performance, especially between 450–650◦ C. In terms of H2 selectivity (SH2) and H2 yield (YH2), both appeared to vary in the following order: Ni/Ce-Sm-10Cu > Ni/Ce-Sm-7Cu > Ni/Ce-Sm-5Cu, demonstrating the high impact of Cu content. Following stability tests, all the catalysts accumulated high amounts of carbon, following the order Ni/Ce-Sm-5Cu