Catalytic properties of M-Cu/ZrO2 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) in steam reforming of ethanol

Abstract

We show that bicomponent supported catalysts M-Cu/ZrO2 (M = Fe, Co, Ni) are considerably more efficient than Cu/ZrO2 in steam reforming of ethanol at 350-550 °C. We have found that Fe-Cu/ZrO2 has increased activity and selectivity in ethanol steam reforming, due to the presence of highly dispersed copper particles and iron oxide particles, which are active in the water-gas shift reaction, and as a result carbon monoxide (a secondary product of ethanol steam reforming) is converted to the target CO2 and H2.