Catalytic monoliths for ethanol steam reforming

Cordierite monoliths coated with Co/ZnO catalysts were prepared by washcoating, urea, and sol–gel techniques and characterized by confocal microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and adherence tests. The performance of the catalytic monoliths for practical application in the production of hydrogen through ethanol steam reforming (ESR) and water gas shift (WGS) reactions was evaluated. Monoliths prepared by the urea method exhibited excellent dispersion and adherence of catalyst coatings and performed better for the reforming of ethanol. 5.6 mol H2/mol C2H5OH were obtained from a C2H5OH:H2O = 1:6 gaseous mixture at 723 K and 0.33 mL min−1 of C2H5OH. Under these conditions and total ethanol conversion the composition of the effluent stream was 73.9% H2, 23.7% CO2, 1.2% CO, and 1.0% CH4. The amount of CO was kept low due to the activity of monoliths for the WGS reaction under ethanol steam reforming conditions.