Steam reforming of biomass derived oxygenates to hydrogen: Importance of metal-support boundary

Steam reforming of acetic acid over Pt/ZrO₂ catalysts was studied as a model reaction of steam reforming of biomass derived oxygenates. Pt/ZrO₂ catalysts were very active; however, the catalyst deactivated in time by formation of oligomers which block the active sites for steam reforming. Temperature programmed oxidation of the used catalysts revealed that there are three types of deposits, on Pt, on ZrO₂ close to Pt particles, and on ZrO₂. The removal of the second type of deposit was essential to regenerate the catalysts. Thus, it was suggested that the Pt-ZrO₂ boundary sites were active sites for steam reforming, where both Pt and ZrO₂ participates in the reforming, to activate acetic acid and water, respectively. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 231st ACS National Meeting (Atlanta, GA 3/26-30/2006).