A Comparative Study between Co and Rh for Steam Reforming of Ethanol

Journal Article · Tue Jun 01 00:00:00 EDT 2010 · Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental, 96(3-4):441-448

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2010.02.041· OSTI ID:991987

Karim, Ayman M; Su, Yu; Sun, Junming; Yang, Cheng; Strohm, James J; King, David L; Wang, Yong

Rh and Co-based catalyst performance was compared for steam reforming of ethanol under conditions suitable for industrial hydrogen production. The reaction conditions were varied to elucidate the differences in reaction pathways on both catalysts. On Co/ZnO, CH4 is a secondary product formed through the methanation reaction, while it is produced directly by ethanol decomposition on Rh. The difference in the reaction mechanism is shown to favor Co-based catalysts for selective hydrogen production under elevated system pressures (up to 15 bar) of industrial importance. The carbon deposition rate was also studied, and we show that Co is more prone to coking and catalyst failure. However, the Co/ZnO catalyst can be regenerated, by mild oxidation, despite the high carbon deposition rate. We conclude that Co/ZnO is a more suitable catalyst system for steam reforming of ethanol due to the low methane selectivity, low cost and possibility of regeneration with mild oxidation.

• Research Organization: Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL), Richland, WA (United States). Environmental Molecular Sciences Lab. (EMSL)
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-76RL01830
• OSTI ID: 991987
• Report Number(s): PNNL-SA-70206; ACBEE3; 20792; 20792a; 24691; EB4201000; TRN: US201021%%444
• Journal Information: Applied Catalysis. B, Environmental, 96(3-4):441-448, Vol. 96, Issue 3-4; ISSN 0926-3373
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
08 HYDROGEN
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
CARBON
CATALYSTS
COKING
DEPOSITION
ETHANOL
HYDROGEN PRODUCTION
METHANATION
METHANE
OXIDATION
PERFORMANCE
REACTION KINETICS
REGENERATION
STEAM
ethanol reforming
cobalt catalyst
rhodium catalyst
carbon deposition
reaction pathway
Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory