Hydrogen production by steam reforming of fusel oil over Ni-based fiber catalyst

Abstract

This research aimed to evaluate the fusel oil steam reforming over Ni/carbon nanotubes-silica fiber (Ni/CNTs-SF) catalysts prepared by impregnation method with 10 wt% of Ni loading. CNTs-SF was synthesized by chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using ethanol as a source for CNTs over steam reforming. The prepared catalysts were analyzed by BET, XRD, TEM, FESEM-EDS, Raman, and TG/DTG. Ni/CNTs-SF catalyst was tested for fusel oil steam reforming and compared with Ni supported on conventional silica such as a silica fiber (SF) and a silica porous (SP) at the same loading. The results found that Ni/CNTs-SF catalyst showed better catalytic activity and stability than Ni/SF and Ni/SP. TGA profile of the catalysts after fusel oil steam reforming showed that the severe carbon deposited over Ni/SP at 64% (wt%), while at 31% was found over Ni/CNTs-SF catalyst and Ni/SF catalyst. In addition, Ni/CNTs-SF catalyst exhibited the highest hydrogen yield at 15%, and Ni/SF and Ni/SP catalysts gave a lower yield of hydrogen at 11% and 7%, respectively.