PLATINUM CATALYSTS FOR THE LOW TEMPERATURE CATALYTIC STEAM REFORMING OF ETHANOL

Electric power generation by H2 fuel cells is the most promising technology for the reduction of fossil fuels dependence, greenhouse gas emissions and atmospheric pollution. Among different H2 sources ethanol is very attractive when obtained from biomass minimizing CO2 emissions. At low temperature ethanol steam reforming to H2 or pre-reforming to CH4 can increase the overall system efficiency, but the by-products formation leads to reduced selectivity and catalyst durability because of coke formation. The feasibility of this process is strictly correlated to both technological and economical aspects. In this work the performance of Pt based catalysts supported on Al2O3 and CeO2 has been studied and compared in terms of catalytic activity and selectivity in the temperature range 300-450 °C. Moreover the techno-economic feasibility of green energy production via steam reforming of bio-ethanol (ESR) was evaluated.