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Palladium nanoparticles supported on carbon Vulcan XC72 (Pd/C) and biocarbon (Pd/BC) synthesized by sodium borohydride process were used as catalysts for ethanol electro-oxidation in alkaline media. The biocarbon (BC) from coconut shell with mesoporous and high surface area (792 m 2 g −1) was obtained by carbonization at 900 °C and the hydrothermal treatment in a microwave oven. The D-band and G-band intensity ratio (I D /I G) from Raman analysis showed high disorder of the biocarbon, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) suggests higher percentage of oxygen groups on the surface of biocarbon than of Vulcan XC72. From X-ray diffraction (XRD), it was observed peaks in 2θ degree related to the face centered cubic (fcc) structure of palladium and the mean crystallite sizes calculated based on the diffraction peak of Pd (220) were 5.6 nm for Pd/C and 5.3 nm for Pd/BC. Using Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM), it was observed particles well dispersed on both carbons support materials. The electrocatalytic activity of the materials was investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry (CA) experiments. The peak current density (on CV experiments) from ethanol electro-oxidation on Pd/BC was 50% higher than on Pd/C, while the current density measured at 15 min of CA experiments was 80% higher on Pd/BC than on Pd/C. The higher catalytic activity of Pd/BC might be related to the large surface area of the biocarbon (792 m 2 g −1) vs (239 m 2 g −1) of Vulcan carbon, the defects of the biocarbon structure and higher amount of oxygen on the surface than Carbon Vulcan XC 72.

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Ethanol reforming process to produce hydrogen rich-gas stream is performed using Cu/Ni catalyst supported on zirconia and alumina microspheres prepared by hydrolysis method. Theses catalysts were tested in a fixed-bed reactor system employing steam reforming of ethanol. The operating temperature was 550°C and water/ethanol feed ratio 3/1. Although all catalysts were very active for ethanol conversion and very selective towards the desired products, but that one supported on zirconia microspheres was produced slightly better results. The data reveal high activity of the Cu/Ni/ZrO2 catalyst for ethanol steam reforming and presented a good selectivity for H2.

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Zirconia has received much attention as catalysts for its high surface area and acid-base property. The textural and acid-base properties of ZrO2 depend on both, the synthesis procedure and the calcinations temperature. The aim of the present study is the preparation and characterization of nickel/cupper/zirconia and cobalt/cupper/zirconia microspheres using hydrolysis process. This process is based on homogeneous hydrolysis of droplets of a concentrated ZrO2(NO3)2-urea solution after adding hexamethyletetramine. Gelation was conduced successfully and the gel spheres were dried at 80 °C. The dried gel spheres were thermally treated at 550 °C. Characterization of the samples was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET nitrogen adsorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric (TGA) and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The performance of the microspheres was investigated as catalysts in steam reforming of ethanol. Theses catalysts exhibit a good selectivity for hydrogen.

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