Chinese Journal of Catalysis ›› 2012, Vol. 33 ›› Issue (2): 281-289.DOI: 10.1016/S1872-2067(11)60335-5

• Research papers • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Co/CeO2 Catalysts Prepared Using Citric Acid Complexing for Ethanol Steam Reforming

PANG Xiaojian, CHEN Yazhong*, DAI Ruiqi, CUI Peng   

  1. School of Chemical Engineering, Hefei University of Technology, Hefei 230009, Anhui, China
  • Received:2011-09-15 Revised:2011-10-26 Online:2012-02-20 Published:2015-07-27

Abstract: Co/CeO2 catalysts with and without calcium doping were prepared by the citric acid complexing method, and characterized by N2 adsorption, X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and high resolution transmission electron microscope. Their catalytic performance measurement for ethanol steam reforming (ESR) at 400–650 oC and atmospheric pressure with a steam-to-carbon ratio of 3.0 and gas hourly space velocity of 50000 ml/(g·h) was measured. The citric acid complexing method enhanced metal-support interaction. The Co/CeO2 catalysts gave almost 100% ethanol conversion and good hydrogen yield at 500 oC. Calcium doping in the catalyst reduced the particle size of CeO2, but had little effect on the metallic cobalt size after reduction. Calcium doping higher than 5% deteriorated the redox properties and ESR catalytic performance, which was attributed to the fouling of CeO2 by CaO. Catalysts activated at 650 oC showed a better performance, which was due to a higher reduction degree of ceria and increase of the metal-oxide interface. Stability investigation of the catalysts suggested that 5% calcium doping enhanced carbon deposition resistance.

Key words: cobalt, ceria, calcium doping, citric acid complexing, ethanol steam reforming, intermediate temperature