Sorption-Enhanced Reforming of Ethanol over Ni- and Co-Incorporated MCM-41 Type Catalysts

Ni- and Co-incorporated MCM-41 type mesoporous materials with Ni/Si and Co/Si molar ratios of 0.12 were synthesized, characterized, and tested in both steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) and sorption-enhanced steam reforming of ethanol (SESRE) reactions. Characterization results showed that Co and Ni were successfully incorporated and well-dispersed in the mesoporous MCM-41 support. Ni- and Co-incorporated MCM-41 catalysts had surface area values of 449.0 and 303.6 m(2)/g, respectively. They also had narrow pore size distributions, with average pore diameters of 2.2 and 1.98 nm, respectively. SESRE results obtained with these catalysts showed that in situ capture of CO2 during ethanol reforming reaction significantly enhanced hydrogen yield in the temperature range of 500-600 degrees C. The catalytic performance of Ni-incorporated MCM-41 was much better than the Co-incorporated MCM-41, in hydrogen production by ethanol reforming. The highest hydrogen yield value obtained over the Ni-incorporated MCM-41 catalyst was achieved at 600 degrees C as 5.6 in SESRE reaction. This was similar to 94% of the maximum possible hydrogen yield value of 6.0.