Ceria Incorporated Alumina Supported Nickel Catalysts for Steam Reforming Reaction of Diesel Fuel

Increase in energy demand with developing technology introduces a need for synthesis of alternative fuels. Hydrogen is considered as the energy carrier of the future in fuel-cell applications. Hydrogen production from diesel through steam reforming reaction (DSR) is an attractive route, due to its easy accessibility and very high hydrogen content (7080% in volume base) [1]. Alumina supported nickel catalysts are generally used in steam reforming of hydrocarbons due to their high catalytic activity, availability and low cost. However, they are also active towards side reactions and carbon deposition. An ideal catalyst support should possess a strong interaction with nickel clusters, strong oxygen storage-release capacity, such as CeO2. In this study, effect of catalyst support structure and composition on its catalytic performance in DSR was investigated. Alumina was synthesized by following the evaporation-induced-self-assembly method (Al2O3-EISA) [2]. Procedure was modified to synthesize ceria-alumina with a ceria incorporation amount of 20 wt.% (CeO2-Al2O3-EISA). In order to analyze the effect of synthesis method, commercial Al2O3 (Al2O3-COM) and 20 wt.% ceria impregnated commercial alumina (CeO2@Al2O3-COM) were also characterized and tested in DSR. According to N2 physisorption analysis, BET surface areas of Al2O3-EISA Al2O3-COM CeO2-Al2O3EISA, and CeO2@Al2O3-COM materials were found to be 265, 190, 81, and 168 m2/g, respectively. It can be deduced that ceria addition to the synthesis solution significantly altered the mesoporous structure. However, impregnation of ceria on commercial alumina reduced surface area and pore volume of the material by plugging the pores. Activity test results showed that ceria incorporation enhanced hydrogen production by minimizing side product formation. Results proved that CeO2-Al2O3 material was a promising candidate as a catalyst support for steam reforming applications