Nanorod alumina-supported Ni–Zr–Fe/Al2O3 catalysts for hydrogen production in auto-thermal reforming of ethanol

Nanorod alumina-supported Ni–Zr–Fe/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by co-impregnation, characterized by TEM, TPR, XRD, XPS, and TPD-pyridine, and tested in auto-thermal reforming of ethanol. The characterization results indicate that, with iron and zirconia promotion, the NixFe1−xAl2O4 mixture spinel forms, the valence of the surface Ni species is modified, and the acidity decreases. As a result, during a 30-h test over the Ni–Zr–Fe/Al2O3 catalyst, sintering is restrained, and the selectivity to hydrogen remains around 85.79% without obvious loss, while the un-promoted Ni/Al2O3 shows poor stability and selectivity.