Silica and zirconia supported catalysts for the low-temperature ethanol steam reforming

Ethanol steam reforming has been investigated in the low temperature range, focusing not only on H-2 productivity, but also on catalyst stability, very critical parameters under such conditions. Different supports (SiO2 and ZrO2), active phases (Ni, Co, Cu) and reaction temperature (300-500 degrees C) have been employed. Ni confirmed the best performing active phase to promote ethanol decomposition and reforming already at low reaction temperature. However, stability towards coking remains a key problem. The support plays a key role from this point of view. Indeed, the stabilization of the active phase in very dispersed form allowed to reach stable catalyst performance with time-on-stream. SiO2, thanks to no Lewis acidity and sufficiently strong metal-support interaction, demonstrated an interesting support for Ni under the selected operating conditions. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.