Ni-based catalysts obtained from perovskites oxides for ethanol steam reforming

Perovskites as host structures of cations were used in order to generate in situ active and stable catalysts for ethanol steam reforming. For this purpose, La_1-xMg_xAl_1-yNi_yO₃ (x=0.1; y=0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3) perovskites were synthetized by the citrate method. Ni segregation is evident for a substitution level higher than 0.2. The segregation of Ni as NiO generated species interacts with different metal-support after the reduction step. The y=0.1 catalyst presents the highest H₂ yield value about 85% during reaction time, with low mean values of CH₄ and CO selectivities of 3.4% and 11%, respectively and a low carbon formation. The better performance of y=0.1 catalyst could be attributed to the minor proportion of segregated phases, thus a controlled expulsion of Ni is successfully reached.