Role of CeO2/ZrO2 mole ratio and nickel loading for steam reforming of n-butanol using Ni-CeO2-ZrO2-SiO2 composite catalysts: A reaction mechanism

This study presents steam reforming of n-butanol to synthesis gas using high surface area mesoporous Ni-CeO2-ZrO2-SiO2 composite catalysts. The reaction proceeds through a combination of dehydrogenation, dehydration, and cracking reactions with propanal, butanal, and C-2-C-4 hydrocarbons as intermediate compounds. The ceria forms a solid solution with zirconia, promotes dispersion of nickel, and enhances oxygen storage/release capacity. The carbon conversion to synthesis gas (CCSG) and hydrogen yield are thus enhanced with increasing CeO2/ZrO2 mole ratio up to 1:2 and decreased slightly for higher mole ratios. The CCSG and hydrogen yield are also boosted by increasing the amount of nickel in the catalyst up to 20 wt%. 1:2 CeO2/ZrO2 mole ratio and 20 wt% nickel content are thus deliberated as optimum. The optimum catalyst exhibits stable catalytic performance for about 30 h time-on-stream. The study further presents the effect of temperature and steam/carbon mole ratio on n-butanol steam reforming. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study demonstrates steam reforming of n-butanol to synthesis gas using composite catalysts and identifies optimal conditions for the reaction. The catalyst composition, temperature, and other factors are found to significantly impact the carbon conversion and hydrogen yield, leading to stable catalytic performance.