Hongqing Chen

Hydrogen production via autothermal reforming of ethanol over noble metal catalysts supported on oxides

Abstract Hydrogen was produced over noble metal (Ir, Ru, Rh, Pd) catalysts supported on various oxides, including γ-Al 2 O 3 , CeO 2 , ZrO 2 and La 2 O 3 , via the autothermal reforming reaction of ethanol (ATRE) and oxidative reforming reaction of ethanol (OSRE). The conversion of ethanol and selectivites for hydrogen and byproducts such as methane, ethylene and acetaldehyde were studied. It was found that lanthana alone possessed considerable activity for the ATRE reaction, which could be used as a functional support for ATRE catalysts. It was demonstrated that Ir/La 2 O 3 prevented the formation of methane, and Rh/La 2 O 3 encumbered the production of ethylene and acetaldehyde. ATRE reaction was carried out over La 2 O 3 -supported catalysts (Ir/La 2 O 3 ) with good stability on stream, high conversion, and excellent hydrogen selectivity approaching thermodynamic limit under autothermal condition. Typically, 3.4 H 2 molecules can be extracted from a pair of ethanol and water molecules over Ir(5wt%)/La 2 O 3 . The results presented in this paper indicate that Ir/La 2 O 3 can be used as a promising catalyst for hydrogen production via ATRE reaction from renewable ethanol.