Potassium improved stability of Ni/MgO in the steam reforming of ethanol for the production of hydrogen for MCFC

The catalytic behavior of the bare and K-promoted 21% Ni/MgO catalyst in the ethanol steam reforming at MCFC operative conditions has been investigated. The effect of K loading (1–3 wt.%) on the catalytic activity, stability and coking rate have been addressed. K addition stabilizes Ni catalyst mainly by depressing the metal sintering, while coke formation does not seem to be influenced by alkali addition. Endurance test (500 h−1) performed at 20,000 h−1 allows foresee a very long catalyst life in the case of practical application. High H2 productivity (>5 mol H2/mol fed ethanol) was obtained. A change in the electronic properties of the active phase accounts for the effect of K addition on the catalytic behavior of the Ni/MgO catalyst.