Bimetallic catalysts performance during ethanol steam reforming: Influence of support materials

Ni–Cu catalysts supported on different materials were tested in ethanol steam reforming reaction for hydrogen production. These catalysts were evaluated at reaction temperature of 400 °C under atmospheric pressure. The reagents, with a water/ethanol molar ratio equal to 10, were fed at 70 dm³/(h g_cat) (after vaporization). Analysis of the ethanol conversion, as well as evaluation and quantification of the reaction products, indicated the catalyst 10% Ni–1% Cu/Ce_0.6Zr_0.4O₂ as the most appropriate for the ethanol steam reforming under investigated reaction conditions, among the studied catalysts. During 8 h of reaction this catalyst presented an average ethanol conversion of 43%, producing a high amount of H₂ by steam reforming and by ethanol decomposition and dehydrogenation parallel reactions. Steam reforming, among the observed reactions, was quantified by the presence of carbon dioxide. About 60% of the hydrogen was produced from ethanol steam reforming and 40% from parallel reactions.