High performance Ni-catalysts supported on rare-earth zirconates (La and Y) for hydrogen production through ethanol steam reforming. Characterization and assay

Renewable hydrogen produced from biomass as an energy vector appears as one of the most promising alternatives to solve, partially at least, the actual environmental and energetic problems. In this sense, a novel series of Ni catalysts supported on rare-earth zirconates (La and Y) for hydrogen production through bioethanol steam reforming were prepared by sol-gel technique and subsequently calcined at 700 and 950 °C. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, scanning electron microscopy, temperature programmed reduction, temperature programmed desorption of CO2 and thermogravimetric analysis and tested in the range of 450–650 °C. All the catalysts showed high activity to produce a H2-CO2 rich gas mixture, with low quantities of secondary products. The catalysts containing Y in their structure showed better performance than their homologous with La, behavior attributable to a higher number of oxygen vacancies in their structure as well as better metal-support interactions. On the other hand, La containing catalysts showed better resistance toward carbonaceous residues formation.