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Small‐scale Steam Reformation of Ethanol over Supported Metal Catalysts at Low Temperature and Pressure
Author(s) -
Cussins M. J.,
Williamson C. J.,
Earl W. B.,
Gardiner A. I.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
developments in chemical engineering and mineral processing
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1932-2143
pISSN - 0969-1855
DOI - 10.1002/apj.5500140103
Subject(s) - catalysis , methanol , hydrogen , yield (engineering) , chemistry , nickel , ethanol , inorganic chemistry , atmospheric pressure , metal , copper , bar (unit) , hydrogen production , steam reforming , chemical engineering , nuclear chemistry , materials science , organic chemistry , metallurgy , oceanography , physics , meteorology , engineering , geology
Ethanol was steam reformed over various supported metal catalysts at 300°C and pressures up to 3 bar gauge. The catalysts trialled included a commercial methanol synthesis catalyst (Cu/ZnO/Al,OJ, and also catalysts with nickel and/or copper impregnated on γ‐alumina extrudates. The effect of the ethanol concentration in the feed was assessed in terms of ethanol conversion and hydrogen yield for each catalyst. It was found that a copper/nickel/yalumina catalyst achieved the highest ethanol conversion (∼100%) and hydrogen yield (1.3 moles hydrogen per mole ethanol reacted) at 300°C and atmospheric pressure with excess water in the feed solution. While both the methanol synthesis catalyst and the Nickel/γAlumina B catalyst achieved high selectivity for hydrogen, their relative performances were hindered by thermal instability and coking respectively. Tests at 300°C and up to 3 bar gauge indicated that increasing the pressure decreased the hydrogen yield.