Steam reforming of aromatic hydrocarbon at low temperature in electric field

Toluene steam reforming was conducted over Ni-supported La_0.7Sr_0.3AlO_3-δ (LSAO) perovskite oxide at 473 K in an electric field, and high toluene conversion was achieved even at such low temperature. Steam reforming is generally done at higher temperatures because of the endothermic nature of this reaction and coke prevention, which requires the contribution of heat energy in great amounts. Reportedly, water activation is particularly difficult to achieve at lower temperatures. Results of kinetic analyses such as Arrhenius plots and partial pressure dependence have revealed that imposing an electric field promotes water activation over Ni/LSAO catalyst. According to steady state isotopic kinetic analysis (SSITKA) and temperature programmed desorption infrared (TPD-IR) measurements, such water activation was accelerated via a redox mechanism using surface lattice oxygen of LSAO. The stimulated mobile lattice oxygen oxidized the adsorbed toluene and formed coke precursor in the electric field. The electric field achieved a lowered reaction temperature for efficient hydrogen production and coke suppression with redox property of LSAO support during toluene steam reforming.