Hydrogen production for fuel cells from the catalytic ethanol steam reforming

Alumina-supported rhodium catalysts were shown to be active, selective and stable catalysts in the catalytic ethanol steam reforming when the reaction is carried out under pressure (1.1 MPa). Both the nature of the metal precursor salt, the metal loading and the reaction conditions were shown to influence the activity, the selectivity and the stability of the catalysts. Some trends observed when the reaction is carried out under moderate pressure were shown to be different from the conclusions drawn from earlier results obtained at atmospheric pressure. In fact, rhodium catalysts derived from a chlorinated metal precursor were shown to be the most active, selective and stable.