Preparation of hydrogen for feeding fuel cells by low-temperature conversion of ethanol on Ni/ZnO and Ni-Cu/ZnO catalysts.

Preparation of hydrogen by low-temperature steam conversion of ethanol on nickel and binary nickel-copper catalysts supported on zinc oxide was studied experimentally in the temperature interval 200-450°C. High efficiency of hydrogen evolution in the course of ethanol conversion on these catalysts was demonstrated. At temperatures lower than 350°C, the main conversion products are hydrogen, methane, carbon monoxide, and carbon dioxide. At 400°C, the conversion products contain no carbon monoxide, which allows the mixture obtained to be used for feeding fuel cells with proton-conducting membranes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]