Steam reforming of biomass based oxygenates—Mechanism of acetic acid activation on supported platinum catalysts

The activation of acetic acid during steam reforming reactions over Pt-based catalysts has been probed by decomposing CH3COOD over Pt/C. The product mixture contained CO2, CH4 and its D-analogs (image, image), H2, HD and D2. CO2, CH3D and D2 are typically primary desorption products whereas the rest originate from hydrogen redistribution reactions and H–D exchange. The bifunctional mechanistic pathways suggested earlier [K. Takanabe, K. Aika, K. Seshan, L. Lefferts, J. Catal. 227 (2004) 101–108; K. Takanabe, K.-i. Aika, K. Inazu, T. Baba, K. Seshan, L. Lefferts, J. Catal. 243 (2006) 263–269] for the steam reforming of acetic acid over Pt/ZrO2 are substantiated.