Ethanol and dimethyl ether steam reforming on Rh/Al₂O₃ catalysts for high-temperature fuel-cell feeds

Catalytic reactions of the steam reforming (SR) of dimethyl ether (DME) and (bio)ethanol to hydrogen-rich gas were compared in a fixed-bed continuous-flow reactor at temperatures of 550-650 A degrees C under atmospheric pressure over Rh/Al2O3 catalysts in terms of product distribution. Rh/Al2O3 catalysts are able to catalyze the high-temperature SR of both EtOH and DME, but in the latter case, higher H-2 yields are obtained and the catalyst is less prone to coking. The aim of this work is to optimise the hydrogen production. Differences in reaction pathways over DME/H2O and EtOH/H2O are indicated.