Abstract
The effect of Ca modification to Ni/Al 2O 3 catalysts in ethanol steam reforming was studied by using a 5-channel micro-reactor, in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) of probe molecules H 2O, NH 3, CO 2 and ethanol. Both Al 2O 3 and Ca-modified Al 2O 3 supports are not catalytically active for the ethanol reforming. But in the presence of the active metal Ni, the catalytic performance of Ni/Ca-Al 2O 3 is far more superior to Ni/Al 2O 3 for low temperature H 2 production. The introduction of Ca greatly reduces the acidity of Al 2O 3, depressing ethanol dehydration and ethylene formation. It brings about positive attributes such as increasing water adsorption, providing Ni catalyst the proximity and abundance of adsorbed OH groups. The involvement of OH groups in the reactions in turn enhances the ethanol adsorption, stabilizes its adsorbate intermediates for further conversions to H 2, CH 4 and CO 2 at relatively low temperatures. This paper therefore serves to illustrate the importance of acidity and steam adsorption capacity in the design of the catalysts for ethanol steam reforming.
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