Ni-Mg-Mn-Fe-O catalyst derived from layered double hydroxide for hydrogen production by auto-thermal reforming of ethanol

•With Fe and Mn, spinel phases of NiFe2O4 and NiMn2O4 formed, and more Ni atoms were reduced to Ni0 species.•Ni-Mg-Mn-Fe-O produced a H2 yield of 4.0 mol-H2/mol-EtOH during a 30-h ATR test.•Ni0 species remained stable in a 30-h ATR test over Ni-Mg-Mn-Fe-O.•Neither structural change nor coke deposition was observed over Ni-Mg-Mn-Fe-O.

Ni-Mg-Mn-Fe-O catalysts were prepared via co-precipitation through layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors and tested for hydrogen production from ethanol by auto-thermal reforming (ATR). With Mn and Fe in the precursor of the Ni0.35 Mg2.65Mn0.5Fe0.5O4.5 ± δ catalyst, an LDH structure formed via co-precipitation, and after calcination, a cubic MgO skeleton formed with spinel phases of NiMn2O4 and NiFe2O4. The H2 yield reached 4.0 mol-H2/mol-EtOH and remained stable in a 30-h ATR test, which can be attributed to the improvement of reduction behavior and stability of Ni0 species.