Ethanol Reforming in Micro Structrures

Ethanol, as one of the most available bio-fuels today, is a viable option for renewable hydrogen production for fuel cells. Different catalyst systems based on transition metals (Ni, Cu, Co) and noble metals (Rh, Ru, Pt, Ir) supported over a wide range of oxides with different acid-base and redox properties have been proposed in the open literature. The main problem of the catalytic systems is to obtain a good hydrogen selectivity and deactivation due to the formation of carbonaceous deposits. In this work Co/CeO2 and Ru/CeO2 catalyst as well as Co/Ru/CeO2 and Co/Pt/CeO2 catalyst have been investigated for their activity, selectivity and carbon formation on ethanol reforming. Co/CeO2 and Ru/CeO2 show similar activity and selectivity, whereas the carbon formation is about a factor 100 lower on the Ru/CeO2 catalyst. The Ru/CeO2 catalyst is therefor investigated in a microstructured reactor. Different catalyst coating methods have been investigated, whereas a washcoating method gave best adhesion and structural features. The microstructured catalyst coating of Ru/CeO2 is tested in ethanol steam reforming.