Catalytic Steam Reforming of Bio-Oil-Derived Acetic Acid over CeO₂-ZnO Supported Ni Nanoparticle Catalysts

The steam reforming of bio-oil-derived acetic acid over the developed Ni/CeO₂-ZnO nanoparticle catalysts for hydrogen production was studied. The correlations of CeO₂ to ZnO mass ratio (CZMR) and nickel loading with the properties and performances of Ni/CeO₂-ZnO catalysts were explored. The H₂, CO, and potential H₂ yields followed a Gaussian normal distribution with increasing the CZMR. An exponential function equation was established to correlate the H₂, CO, and potential H₂ yields with Ni loading. As the CZMR increased from 0 to 1/3, the H₂ yield increased from 57.8 to 69.4%, with a growth rate of 20.1%. Further, on increasing the CZMR from 1/3 to 3, the H₂ yield decreased by 37.6%. The CO yield showed a similar trend for the H₂ yield on increasing the CZMR, which first increased to a peak value, then started to decrease rapidly and finally stabilized. The yield of H₂ increased significantly from 20.6 to 73.5%, with the increase of nickel loading from 0 to 15%. Further, on increasing the nickel loading from 15 to 25%, the H₂ yield increased by only 5.8%. With the CZMR of 1/3 and the nickel loading of 15%, the selectivities of H₂ and CO were as high as 91.6 and 42.3%, respectively.