Flame Spray Pyrolysis: catalysts for the Steam Reforming of bio-ethanol

Flame Spray Pyrolysis (FSP) is a one step high temperature synthesis able to impart strong metal-support interaction [1], besides high thermal resistance. A set of Ni catalysts supported over ZrO2 doped with different basic oxide (CaO, MgO) were prepared by this innovative technique. Steam Reforming catalytic test were carried out for the production of hydrogen using bio-ethanol. The catalytic activity was compared with catalysts of the same composition, but prepared with a traditional precipitation/impregnation method (multistep synthesis). Very high activity has been observed at high reaction temperature (>600°C), but further kinetic studies were done under milder conditions (500-300°C), in order to lower the energy input to the process and to improve H2 productivity favoring the water gas shift reaction [2]. Two different bioethanol samples, 50 and 90 vol%, produced and supplied by Mossi&Ghisolfi, have been used for 8 h-on-stream at each temperature. Attention was paid to the catalyst resistance towards deactivation by coking, besides its activity and selectivity. The acidity of the support was tuned by doping ZrO2 with basic oxides, helping to prevent ethanol dehydration and coking by ethylene polymerization. Fresh and spent samples were characterized by XRD, TPR, TPO, TEM, FE-SEM and Raman analysis. Figure: scheme and image of Flame Spray Pyrolysis [1] G. Ramis, I. Rossetti, E. Finocchio, M. Compagnoni, M. Signoretto, A. Di Michele, Progress in Clean Energy, I. Dincer, Ed. Springer, in press. [2] I. Rossetti, J. Lasso, E. Finocchio, G. Ramis, V. Nichele, M. Signoretto, A. Di Michele, Appl. Catal. B: Environmental, 150-151 (2014) 257-267.