The influence of Ni loading on coke formation in steam reforming of acetic acid

Steam reforming of acetic acid on Ni/γ-Al2O3 with different nickel loading for hydrogen production was investigated in a tubular reactor at 600 °C, 1 atm, H2O/HAc = 4, and WHSV = 5.01 g-acetic acid/g-cata.h−1. The catalysts were characterized by temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that the amount of deposited carbidic-like carbon decreased and graphitic-like carbon increased with Ni loading increasing from 9 to 15 wt%. The Ni/γ-Al2O3 catalyst with 12 wt% Ni loading had higher catalytic activity and lower coke deposited rate.