Effect of small amount of Fe addition on ethanol steam reforming over Co/Al₂O₃ catalyst

We examined the promotion effect of Fe addition and the role of Fe on Co/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst for ethanol steam reforming using XAFS and IR. Activity tests of Fe/Co/α-Al₂O₃ with various Fe loadings show the addition of 0.22 wt% iron as an appropriate amount for the promotion of ethanol steam reforming. The investigation of apparent activation energies revealed that both ethanol steam reforming and acetaldehyde steam reforming were promoted by 0.22 wt%Fe addition. XAFS analyses revealed that Co and Fe on 0.22 wt%Fe/Co/α-Al₂O₃ produced Co-Fe alloy with an fcc-structure. Results of in situ IR measurements showed that acetate species were stabilized on the catalyst by loading 0.22 wt%Fe, and that the catalytic activity and selectivity to hydrogen were improved by Fe addition.