Bio-Ethanol Steam Reforming Reaction Over Bimetallic Ceria-Supported Catalysts

Abstract

Hydrogen is mainly produced through the steam reforming of natural gas. Despite the advantages related to the well known technology, this method has some drawbacks due to the non renewability of the feedstock and to the production of harmful emissions. The use of bio-ethanol as the raw material for the steam reforming process could overcome these limits, in particular at the low temperature it is possible to reduce the thermal duty and the production of carbon monoxide. Considering that also by-products productions could occur, a very active and stable catalyst is needed, able to minimize CO and coke formation. This work focuses on the performance of bimetallic catalysts for the low temperature-ethanol steam reforming (LT-ESR reaction), investigated in terms of activity, selectivity, stability and reaction mechanism.