Ethanol steam reforming over NiLaZr and NiCuLaZr mixed metal oxide catalysts

Steam Reforming of Bioethanol Using Metallic Catalysts on Zeolitic Supports: An Overview

Hydrogen is considered one of the energy carriers of the future due to its high mass-based calorific value. Hydrogen combustion generates only water, and it can be used directly as a fuel for electricity/heat generation. Nowadays, about 95% of the hydrogen is produced via conversion of fossil fuels. One of the future challenges is to find processes based on a renewable source to produce hydrogen in a sustainable way. Bioethanol is a promising candidate, since it can be obtained from the fermentation of biomasses, and easily converted into hydrogen via steam catalytic reforming. The correct design of catalysts and catalytic supports plays a crucial role in the optimization of this reaction. The best results have to date been achieved by noble metals, but their high costs make them unsuitable for industrial application. Very satisfactory results have also been achieved by using nickel and cobalt as active metals. Furthermore, it has been found that the support physical and chemical properties strongly affect the catalytic performance. In this review, zeolitic materials used for the ethanol steam reforming reaction are overviewed. We discuss thermodynamics, reaction mechanisms and the role of active metal, as well as the main noble and non-noble active compounds involved in ethanol steam reforming reaction. Finally, an overview of the zeolitic supports reported in the literature that can be profitably used to produce hydrogen through ethanol steam reforming is presented.

Catalytic Steam Reforming of Biomass-Derived Oxygenates for H2 Production: A Review on Ni-Based Catalysts

The steam reforming of ethanol, methanol, and other oxygenates (e.g., bio-oil and olive mill wastewater) using Ni-based catalysts have been studied by the scientific community in the last few years. This process is already well studied over the last years, being the critical point, at this moment, the choice of a suitable catalyst. The utilization of these oxygenates for the production of “green” H2 is an interesting alternative to fuel fossils. For this application, Ni-based catalysts have been extensively studied since they are highly active and cheaper than noble metal-based materials. In this review, a comparison of several Ni-based catalysts reported in the literature for the different above-mentioned reactions is carried out. This study aims to understand if such catalysts demonstrate enough catalytic activity/stability for application in steam reforming of the oxygenated compounds and which preparation methods are most adequate to obtain these materials. In summary, it aims to provide insights into the performances reached and point out the best way to get better and improved catalysts for such applications (which depends on the feedstock used).

Hydrogen Production from Ethanol Steam Reforming Using Ce- and La- Modified Mesoporous MCM-41 Supported Nickel-Based Catalysts

Mesoporous MCM-41 containing different amounts of nickel (10, 15 and 20 wt%) and Ce and/or La promoters were prepared by hydrothermal and wet-impregnation methods. The catalysts were characterized by means of temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), N2 adsorption-desorption, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric (TGA) analyses. Then, the catalysts were tested for hydrogen production via steam reforming of ethanol in a fixed bed reactor. Hydrogen selectivity and ethanol conversion over Ni/MCM-41 catalyst were 69.6 % and 94 %, respectively. The best catalytic results were obtained with Ce-Ni/MCM-41 catalyst, i. e. 94 % ethanol conversion and 76.5 % hydrogen selectivity. These results remained constant about 90 h time on stream and ethanol conversion decreased to 87 % after 120 h.

J, Di Michele A, Rossetti I. Flame-pyrolysis-prepared catalysts for the steam reforming of ethanol

New catalysts were prepared by flame pyrolysis for ethanol steam reforming and were proven to be very active and stable.