Hydrogen production from steam reforming of ethanol over Ni/MgO-CeO2 catalyst at low temperature

MgO, CeO2 and MgO-CeO2 with different mole ratio of Mg:Ce were prepared by solid-phase burning method. Catalysts Ni/MgO, Ni/CeO2 and Ni/MgO-CeO2 were prepared by impregnation method. The catalytic properties were evaluated in ethanol steam reforming (ESR) reaction. Specific surface areas of the supports were measured by nitrogen adsorption-desorption at 77 K, and the catalysts were characterized with X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and thermogravimetric (TG). The results showed that well dispersed NiO, bulk-like NiO phase and NiO interacting with the support co-existed in Ni/CeO2 and Ni/MgO-CeO2. The catalysts supported on composite supports exhibited better performance than that on single supports, and the catalyst with the support of 1:1 mole ratio of Mg:Ce exhibited the optimum activity, selectivity and stability for ESR reaction at low temperature.