Support Modification of Supported Nickel Catalysts for Hydrogen Production by Auto-thermal Reforming of Ethanol

Recent progress on support modification of supported nickel catalysts for hydrogen production by auto-thermal reforming of ethanol was reported in this review. Nickel catalysts supported on various materials, including metal oxides and metal oxide-stabilized mesoporous zirconias, were prepared by an incipient wetness impregnation method for use in hydrogen production by auto-thermal reforming of ethanol. Various experimental measurements such as NH3-TPD (temperature-programmed desorption) and TPR (temperature-programmed reduction) were carried out to elucidate the different catalytic performance of supported nickel catalysts. It was revealed that acid property of supporting materials served as one of the important factors determining the catalytic performance. Hydrogen yield over nickel catalysts supported on metal oxides showed a volcano-shaped curve with respect to acidity of the supports. Among the catalysts tested, Ni/ZrO2 catalyst with an intermediate acidity exhibited a superior catalytic performance. It was also observed that reducibility of nickel catalysts supported on metal oxide-stabilized mesoporous zirconias played a key role in determining the catalytic performance in the auto-thermal reforming of ethanol for hydrogen production. Hydrogen yield over nickel catalysts supported on metal oxide-stabilized zirconias increased with increasing reducibility of the catalysts (with decreasing TPR peak temperature of the catalysts).