Structured catalysts for steam and steam-air conversion of ethanol into synthesis gas: I. Preparation and catalytic properties

Steam reforming and autothermal reforming of ethanol produce synthesis gas suitable for both powering solid oxide fuel cells and serving as a feedstock for chemical industry applications. For these reactions to occur effectively, heat transfer must be controlled. In the case of endothermic steam reforming of ethanol, the problem of heat transfer from the reactor walls to the catalyst bed arises. For thermoneutral autothermal reforming (steam-air conversion) of ethanol, the problem arises of redistributing the heat released in the front part of the catalyst layer as a result of the oxidation of ethanol with oxygen along the catalyst layer to compensate for the endothermic effect of steam reforming of ethanol. To solve these problems, structured catalysts based on heat-conducting substrates—metal meshes, foam metals, and other supports—are well suited. Such catalysts are a complex composite material with a multi-level structure “structured metal substrate-structural oxide component-active oxide-nanoparticles of metals or alloys”, which combines the functions of a heat exchanger, a flow distributor and the catalyst itself. This work presents the results of the preparation of Pt, Rh, Pd, Ru, Ni, and Co-containing structured catalysts supported on a FeCrAl mesh support and the study of their catalytic properties.