Ethanol steam reforming over Ni/ZnAl 2O 4-CeO 2. Influence of calcination atmosphere and nature of catalytic precursor

Abstract

The hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming has been studied over Ni/ZnAl 2O 4-CeO 2 catalysts. The influence of calcination atmosphere and nature of catalytic precursor was analyzed. The impregnation of Ni was carried out from two different nickel salts: nitrate (Nt) and acetate (Ac). The catalysts were obtained from the precursor calcination under reductive and oxidative atmospheres. The catalysts obtained from nitrate salt impregnation were the most carbon resistance measured as mmolC/mol reacted C 2H 5OH, and those obtained under a reductive atmosphere were the most stable, as evidenced by smaller activity losses. The Ni(Nt)/ZnAl 2O 4-CeO 2 obtained under reductive atmosphere was the most active (steady state ethanol conversion = 88%) and stable (activity loss = 14%) under mild reforming conditions (7.8% C 2H 5OH inlet concentration, H 2O:C 2H 5OH molar ratio = 4.9, reaction temperature = 650 °C and W / F = 49 g min mol C 2 H 5 OH − 1 ). The hydrogen selectivity was 49% and the main C-containing products were CO 2, CO and C 2H 4O.