Cooperative role of cobalt and gallium under the ethanol steam reforming on Co/CeGaOx

Abstract

The performance of gallium promoted cobalt-ceria catalysts for ethanol steam reforming (ESR) was studied using H2O/C2H5OH = 6/1 mol/mol at 500 °C. The catalysts were synthetized via cerium-gallium co-precipitation and wetness impregnation of cobalt. A detailed characterization by N2-physisorption, XRD, H2-TPR and TEM allowed the normalization of contact time and rationalization of the role of each catalysts component for ESR. The gallium promoted catalyst, Co/Ce90Ga10Ox, was more efficient for the ethanol conversion to H2 and CO2, and the production of oxygenated by-products (such as, acetaldehyde and acetone) than Co/CeO2. The catalytic performance is explained assuming that: (i) bare ceria is able to dehydrogenate ethanol to ethylene; (ii) Ce–O–Ga interface catalyzes ethanol reforming; (iii) both Ce–O–Co and Ce–O–Ga interfaces takes part in acetone production; and (iv) cobalt sites further allow C–C scission. It is suggested that a cooperative role between Co and Ce–O–Ga sites enhance the H2 and CO2 yields under ESR conditions.