Sustainable route to hydrogen – Design of stable catalysts for the steam gasification of biomass related oxygenates

Steam reforming of acetic acid, a biomass derived oxygenate, has been studied over Ni-based catalysts. Ni/ZrO2 showed gradual deactivation in time. Coke formation as well as a competitive adsorption of reactants is suggested to be responsible for the catalyst deactivation. Addition of potassium strongly influenced the reduction temperature of NiO. The presence of potassium and lanthanum improved catalyst stability by decreasing coke accumulation. It is proposed that the presence of lanthanum as an oxy-carbonate phase enhances coke gasification.