A study to develop nano-spray freeze dried Co/Ce-La catalyst for the production of hydrogen from bio-renewable feedstock

Ultra-fine Ce-Co and Co-x/Ce-La (x = 4 and 10%) solid solutions (SS) were prepared for the first time by spray freezing technology, and evaluated in bio-ethanol steam reforming reaction for H-2 production. The catalysts were characterized by DLS, XRD, BET and TEM, in order to reveal the structure activity relationship. It was shown that, the addition of La3+ cation to Ce-Co catalyst lead to 100% ethanol conversion at lower reaction temperature (300 degrees C). Hydrogen selectivity was higher on Ce-Co catalyst than on Co-x/Ce-La and increase by increase Co content. Moreover, Co-x/Ce-La catalysts provided highest deactivation resistant during 15 h. Characterization of spent catalysts revealed that, the addition of La as a promoter to Ce-Co catalyst preventing sintering at high temperatures. TGA analysis indicates the formation of very small amounts of amorphous carbon on Co-10/Ce-La catalyst, while CNT was formed on Ce-Co which responsible for deactivation processes. Both oxygen vacancy and La2O2CO3 acted as carbon scavengers during ESR reaction over Co-x/Ce-La. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.