Silica and zirconia supported catalysts for the low-temperature ethanol steam reforming

Ethanol steam reforming has been investigated in the low temperature range, focusing not only on H2 productivity, but also on catalyst stability, very critical parameters under such conditions. Different supports (SiO2 and ZrO2), active phases (Ni, Co, Cu) and reaction temperature (300–500 °C) have been employed. Ni confirmed the best performing active phase to promote ethanol decomposition and reforming already at low reaction temperature. However, stability towards coking remains a key problem. The support plays a key role from this point of view. Indeed, the stabilization of the active phase in very dispersed form allowed to reach stable catalyst performance with time-on-stream. SiO2, thanks to no Lewis acidity and sufficiently strong metal–support interaction, demonstrated an interesting support for Ni under the selected operating conditions.