Application of BICOVOX catalyst for hydrogen production from ethanol

Catalytic activity of cobalt-doped bismuth vanadate [Bi₄(V_0.90Co_0.10)₂O_11−δ ; BICOVOX] powder, prepared by a solution combustion synthesis and calcined at 800 °C (BICOVOX-800), for hydrogen production using low-temperature steam reforming of ethanol, has been reported in this paper. The effects of reaction temperature (250–400 °C) and feed concentration (H₂O/EtOH = 2.5:1 and 23:1 mol ratio) on the steady-state ethanol conversion and selectivity of H₂, CO₂, CO, and CH₄ have been investigated (up to 30 h). It is observed that with an increase in reaction temperature and H₂O/EtOH mole ratio, H₂ and CO₂ selectivity increases and CO and CH₄ selectivity decreases. The maximum H₂ selectivity and ethanol conversion are observed to be 63 and 88%, respectively, for H₂O/EtOH = 23:1 mol ratio at 400 °C. The XRD results show that the fresh BICOVOX-800 has pure γ-phase and is highly crystalline. The used catalyst (more than 150 h total) is detected to have less crystallinity and to partially decompose into Bi₂O₃ and BiVO₄ phases.