Copper promoted Co/MgO: A stable and efficient catalyst for glycerol steam reforming

摘要

Different types of cobalt-based mixed oxide catalysts (20 wt%Co/MgO, 5 wt%Cu-20 wt% Co/ MgO, 20 wt%Co/50%MgO-50%Al2O3) were synthesized by the co-precipitation method and applied for hydrogen production from glycerol steam reforming. The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), H-2-Temperature-programmed reduction (H-2-TPR), CO2-Temperature Programmed desorption, CO-Chemisorption, and CHN techniques. The H-2-TPR analysis showed the reducibility of cobalt-oxide (5Cu20CM; 5 wt%Cu-20 wt% Co/MgO) was enhanced by the copper, and reduction profiles of cobalt oxide shifted to a lower temperature (450 degrees C). Among the catalysts, 5Cu20CM showed a maximum yield of hydrogen (74.6%) with 100% conversion of glycerol to the gaseous phase. The superior catalytic performance of 5Cu20CM for glycerol conversion was attributed to the smaller particle size (7 nm), higher dispersion of cobalt (35.0%), and the higher surface area (56 m(2)/ g) of cobalt metal. Furthermore, Raman spectroscopy of the spent catalysts confirmed that the copper promoted cobalt-magnesium catalyst suppressed the carbon formation, consequently, 5Cu20CM catalyst showed a stable performance up to 30 h. (C) 2020 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.