Hydrogen Production from Ethanol Steam Reforming over SnO2-K2O/Zeolite Y Catalyst

The SnO2 with a particle size of about 300 nm instead of Ni is used in this study to overcome rapid catalytic deactivation by the formation of a NiAl2O4 spinal structure on the conventional Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst and simultaneously impregnated the catalyst with potassium (K). The SnO2-K2O impregnated Zeolite Y catalyst (SnO2-K2O/ZY) exhibited significantly higher ethanol reforming reactivity that that achieved with SnO2 100 and SnO2 30 wt %/ZY catalysts. The main products from ethanol steam reforming (ESR) over the SnO2-K2O/ZY catalyst were H-2, CO2, and CH4, with no evidence of any CO molecule formation. The H-2 production and ethanol conversion were maximized at 89% and 100%, respectively, over SnO2 30 wt %-K2O 3.0 wt %/ZY at 600 degrees C for 1 h at a CH3CH2OH:H2O ratio of 1:1 and a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 12,700 No catalytic deactivation occurred for up to 73 h. This result is attributable to the easier and weaker of reduction of Sn components and acidities over SnO2-K2O/ZY catalyst, respectively, than those of Ni/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts.