Ethanol steam reforming for hydrogen production over bimetallic Pt-Ni/Al2O3

Ethanol steam reforming was studied at 673-823 K over Pt-Ni/delta-Al2O3. Results indicate that bimetallic catalyst is resistant to coke deposition at steam-to-carbon ratios as low as 1.5 and higher ratios are beneficial for both ethanol conversion and hydrogen formation. About 773 K is the optimum since high H-2 production rates are accompanied by low CO and CH4 production rates. A power-function rate expression obtained on the basis of intrinsic rates at 673 K gives reaction orders of 1.25 (+/- 0.05) and -0.215 (+/- 0.015) for ethanol and steam, respectively; the apparent activation energy is calculated as 39.3 (+/- 2) kJ mol(-1) between 673 and 723 K.