Catalytic steam reforming of ethanol to produce hydrogen and acetone

Steam reforming of ethanol over CuO/CeO2 was studied. Acetaldehyde and hydrogen were mainly produced at 260 °C. At 380 °C, acetone was the main product, and 2 mol of hydrogen was produced from 1 mol of ethanol. The formation of hydrogen accompanied by the production of acetone was considered to proceed through the following consecutive reactions: dehydrogenation of ethanol to acetaldehyde, aldol condensation of the acetaldehyde, and the reaction of the aldol with the lattice oxygen [O(S)] on the catalyst to form a surface intermediate, followed by its dehydrogenation and decarboxylation. The overall reaction was expressed by 2C2H5OH + H2O → CH3COCH3 + CO2 + 4H2. Ceria played an important role as an oxygen supplier. The addition of MgO to CuO/CeO2 resulted in the production of hydrogen at lower temperatures by accelerating aldol condensation.