Study of Co/CeO2-γ-Al2O3 catalysts for steam and oxidative reforming of ethanol for hydrogen production

Cobalt catalysts supported on γAl2O3, CeO2 and CeO2-γAl2O3 were prepared by the impregnation method and applied to steam and oxidative reforming of ethanol. The catalysts were characterized by temperature-programmed reduction with H2 (TPR-H2), X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2-physisorption and diffuse reflectance spectroscopy in the ultra-violet visible range (DRS-UV–Vis). Steam reforming of ethanol was carried out at 400 °C, 500 °C and 600 °C with an ethanol/water feed in a molar ratio of 1:3. The oxidative reforming of ethanol was carried out at 500 °C with an ethanol/H2O/O2 feed in molar proportion 1:3:0.20. Analysis of the gaseous products showed that the Co/γAl2O3 and Co/CeO2-γAl2O3 catalysts were highly selective for H2 and CO2, and this was attributed to the high specific surface area of these catalysts. The addition of O2 to the feed improved the hydrogen selectivity and reduced the carbon formation on Co/γAl2O3, which suffered fast deactivation in the SRE reaction at low temperature.