209b Kinetic and Process Study for Ethanol Reforming Using a Pt/rh Washcoated Monolith Catalyst

Amanda Simson and Marco Castaldi. Earth and Environmental Engineering Department, Columbia University, 500 W. 120th Street, New York, NY 10027

The reforming of pure ethanol was studied over a bimetallic precious metal (Rh/Pt) catalyst deposited on a ceramic monolith in order to analyze reforming process conditions. High ethanol conversion tests performed at low space velocities (< 20,000 h-1) confirmed that the catalyst could achieve 100% ethanol conversion to equilibrium concentrations of H2, CO, CO2 and CH4 Low conversion tests at high space velocities (>50,000 h-1) were conducted to produce an overall rate expression with an activation energy of 76 kJ/mole. The reaction was found to be approximately first order in ethanol, zero order in water for near stoichiometric conditions. In addition, the impact of non-catalytic reactions was studied and the catalyst was capable of reforming ethanol as well as the byproducts from non-catalytic reactions at 500 – 700°C. This work is part 1 of a series to develop a process for steam reforming E85 (85% ethanol + 15% gasoline) to generate hydrogen for a fuel cell.