The use of industrial dehydrogenation catalysts for hydrogen production from bioethanol

The catalytic performance of Cu-containing industrial dehydrogenation catalysts for the steam reforming of ethanol has been studied in the temperature range of 150–300∘C, using 12 wt% C2H5OHC2H5OH in water mixtures. It was found that without the catalyst appreciable hydrogen production started at temperatures above 300∘C and the hydrogen production rate reached 0.3g(h)-1(kgcat.)-1 at 400∘C. The use of catalysts allowed to reach hydrogen production rate of 19–25g(h)-1(kgcat.)-1 at 250–300∘C300∘C. Acetaldehyde, acetone, CO2CO2 and CH4CH4 were registered at the outlet of the ethanol reformer. Carbon monoxide was not detected, which was likely caused by intensive water gas shift reaction.