Steam reforming of biomass based oxygenates - Mechanism of acetic acid activation on supported platinum catalysts.

The activation of acetic acid during steam reforming reactions over Pt-based catalysts has been probed by decomposing CH3COOD over Pt/C. The product mixture contained CO2, CH4 and its D-analogs (CH4−xDx, 0⩽x⩽4), H2, HD and D2. CO2, CH3D and D2 are typically primary desorption products whereas the rest originate from hydrogen redistribution reactions and H–D exchange. The bifunctional mechanistic pathways suggested earlier [K. Takanabe, K. Aika, K. Seshan, L. Lefferts, J. Catal. 227 (2004) 101–108; K. Takanabe, K.-i. Aika, K. Inazu, T. Baba, K. Seshan, L. Lefferts, J. Catal. 243 (2006) 263–269] for the steam reforming of acetic acid over Pt/ZrO2 are substantiated