Combustion synthesis of Ni, Fe and Cu multi-component catalysts for hydrogen production from ethanol reforming

Solution combustion synthesis was used to prepare multi-component catalysts containing Ni, Fe, and Cu using a controlled volume combustion method. A series of catalysts containing the selected metals in different molar ratios were analyzed for their activity and hydrogen selectivity for ethanol decomposition and ethanol partial oxidative reforming reactions. The most active and selective catalyst was found to be Ni1Fe0.5Cu1 yielding ∼80% conversion and ∼42% hydrogen selectivity at the relatively low temperature of ∼415 °C for the ethanol decomposition reaction. Decreasing the oxygen concentration in the feed increased the H2 selectivity at lower temperature. In the absence of oxygen, i.e. during ethanol decomposition, hydrogen production starts at 120 °C and gives a selectivity of ∼40% at about 380 °C. Studies with monometallic catalysts show that Ni at lower temperature was the most active and selective for hydrogen and methane, Cu was selective for acetaldehyde and Fe was selective for CO2 and ethane. Hydrogen selectivity was found to be highest for Fe at high temperature.

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► Ni1Fe0.5Cu1 is the most active composition.
► The activity–selectivity of Cu, Ni and Fe varied with T.
► Ni is selective for H2 and CH4, Cu for CH3CHO and H2, and Fe for H2 and C2H6.