Hydrogen Production from Ethanol Steam Reforming over SnO₂-K₂O/Zeolite Y Catalyst

The $SnO_2$ with a particle size of about 300 nm instead of Ni is used in this study to overcome rapid catalytic deactivation by the formation of a $NiAl_2O_4$ spinal structure on the conventional Ni/${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$ catalyst and simultaneously impregnated the catalyst with potassium (K). The $SnO_2-K_2O$ impregnated Zeolite Y catalyst ($SnO_2-K_2O$/ZY) exhibited significantly higher ethanol reforming reactivity that that achieved with $SnO_2$ 100 and $SnO_2$ 30 wt %/ZY catalysts. The main products from ethanol steam reforming (ESR) over the $SnO_2$-$K_2O$/ZY catalyst were $H_2$, $CO_2$, and $CH_4$, with no evidence of any CO molecule formation. The $H_2$ production and ethanol conversion were maximized at 89% and 100%, respectively, over $SnO_2$ 30 wt %-$K_2O$ 3.0 wt %/ZY at 600 $^{\circ}C$ for 1 h at a $CH_3CH_2OH:H_2O$ ratio of 1:1 and a gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 12,700 $h^{-1}$. No catalytic deactivation occurred for up to 73 h. This result is attributable to the easier and weaker of reduction of Sn components and acidities over $SnO_2-K_2O$/ZY catalyst, respectively, than those of Ni/${\gamma}$-$Al_2O_3$ catalysts.