Low-temperature partial oxidation of ethanol over supported platinum catalysts for hydrogen production

Three types of supported platinum catalysts were prepared using incipient wetness impregnation (Pt/Al2O3(Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/ZnO) and sol–gel (Pt/ZrO2)(Pt/ZrO2), respectively. Particle sizes of platinum on prepared catalysts were characterized by combining hydrogen chemisorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The catalytic activities toward partial oxidation of ethanol (POE) were further investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. Experimental results demonstrated that significant ethanol conversion (CEtOH>50%)(CEtOH>50%) existed for all catalysts at a low temperature of TR=370K. The selectivity of hydrogen (SH2)(SH2) and CO (SCO)(SCO) varied with the different catalysts. The SH2SH2 increases as the dispersion of platinum increases and the SCOSCO approaches zero for Pt/ZrO2Pt/ZrO2 catalysts. Among these catalysts, the Pt/ZrO2Pt/ZrO2 catalyst was an excellent catalyst for selective and effective production of hydrogen from POE at a low temperature. Both CEtOHCEtOH and SH2SH2 reached 51% and 97%, respectively, at T=370K, O2/EtOH=1.0O2/EtOH=1.0 for 1.9% Pt/ZrO2Pt/ZrO2 catalyst.