Abstract: The Co/CeO2 catalysts were prepared by the co-precipitation method and used for H2 production from steam reforming of ethanol. The effects of the Co3O4 content and calcination temperature on the catalyst performance were investigated. The Co/CeO2 catalyst with a Co3O4 content of 10% calcined at 650 ℃ exhibited high ethanol conversion and H2 selectivity under the reaction conditions of 350-600 ℃, water∶ethanol∶N2 molar ratio of 3∶1∶16, and space velocity of 40 L/(g•h). Over this catalyst, ethanol conversion and H2 selectivity kept close to 100% and 65%, respectively, during the stability test at 500 ℃ for 40 h. The catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption using the BET method and X-ray diffraction. There are three kinds of cobalt in the catalyst, that is, highly dispersed cobalt oxide, bulk Co3O4, and cobalt ions in ceria lattice. It is supposed that the metallic cobalt from the reduction of highly dispersed cobalt oxide is the key active component of the Co/CeO2 catalyst.

Key words: ethanol, steam reforming, hydrogen production, cobalt, ceria, supported catalyst