a b s t r a c t samples have been prepared by conventional impregnation, using silica-free -Al 2 O 3 support. The materials have been characterized, as such or after reaction, with XRD, skeletal IR, UV-vis-NIR, XPS and FESEM techniques. The catalytic activity has been evaluated in ethanol decomposition through temperature programmed surface reaction (TPSR); and in ethanol steam reforming (ESR); and in mixed ethanol and phenol steam reforming (EPSR as a model reaction for biomass tar steam reforming) in a continuous flow reactor. Ni on alumina exists as a surface Ni x Al 2 O 3+x spinel, evident by XRD, skeletal IR and vis spectroscopy measurements. La disperses on alumina in a disordered state. In the ternary system, XPS reveals significant Ni-La interactions. The addition of some lanthanum further increases the activity of Ni/Al 2 O 3 for ESR and EPSR. Fresh unreduced catalysts are conditioned in the feed at temperatures above 973 K. Conditioned catalysts give rise to full conversion of reactants in ESR and EPSR at 873 K and higher temperatures, but are severely deactivated by sulfur. The sudden start of the steam reforming activity at 873 K likely corresponds to the temperature onset for the activation of water by metallic nickel.

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Lanthana on alumina samples (0.2, 0.8 and 4.7 theoretical monolayers) were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation using γ-Al2O3 as support. Characterization has been performed by BET, XRD, skeletal FT-IR, DR-UVvis, XPS, HR-TEM, IR spectra of the surface OH, adsorbed pyridine and CO2, and isopropanol TPD. Ethanol conversion was investigated both in temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) dynamic conditions as well as in steady-state flow reactor tests. Lanthanum addition stabilizes alumina with respect to sintering and loss of surface area and La- containing phases are observed only for the high-La loaded catalyst. La-alumina catalysts are less active in ethanol dehydration than alumina but more selective to diethyl ether at partial conversion. 5%La2O3/Al2O3 is also equally or more selective than alumina to ethylene at high conversion, producing less carbonaceous material during reaction. Thus, this catalytic system might be a good candidate for (bio)ethylene production through (bio)ethanol dehydration

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