Investigation of Ni/SiO₂ catalysts prepared at different conditions for hydrogen production from ethanol steam reforming

Ni/SiO₂ catalysts prepared by a sol–gel method have been investigated for hydrogen production via steam reforming of ethanol using a continuous flow, fixed bed reactor system. Chemical equilibrium calculations were also performed to determine the effects of temperature and molar steam to carbon ratio on hydrogen production. The acidity of the preparation solution (modified by nitric acid and ammonia) and calcination atmosphere (air and N₂) were investigated in the preparation of the catalysts. BET surface area and porosity, temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterise the prepared catalysts. The BET surface area was reduced when the solution acidity was lowered during the sol–gel preparation process. A pH value less than 2.0 was necessary to achieve high metal dispersion in the catalyst. Smaller NiO particles were obtained when the catalyst was calcined in N₂. Material balances on ethanol steam reforming at 600 °C using the prepared Ni/SiO₂ catalysts were determined, and higher hydrogen production with lower coke deposition on the reacted catalysts were also obtained from the catalysts calcined in N₂ atmosphere.