DOI: https://doi.org/10.9767/bcrec.20686

Tailoring the Structural Evolution of Co-Supported Fibrous ZSM-5 via Hydrothermal Aging for Syngas Production in Ethanol Dry Reforming

1Faculty of Chemical and Process Engineering Technology, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia

2Department of Chemical Engineering, Faculty of Industrial Technology, Universitas Ahmad Dahlan, Jl. Jend. Ahmad Yani, Banguntapan, Bantul, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

3Centre for Research in Advanced Fluid & Processes, Universiti Malaysia Pahang Al-Sultan Abdullah, 26300 Gambang, Pahang, Malaysia

Received: 14 Mar 2026; Revised: 28 Apr 2026; Accepted: 29 Apr 2026; Available online: 6 May 2026; Published: 30 Oct 2026.
Editor(s): Istadi Istadi
Open Access Copyright (c) 2026 by Authors, Published by BCREC Publishing Group
Creative Commons License This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
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Abstract

The catalytic dry reforming of ethanol (EDR) offers a promising approach to reduce CO2 emissions and support the less carbon-intensive processes. This study examined the effect of cobalt (Co) loading on fibrous ZSM-5 (FZSM-5), which was synthesized at hydrothermal aging times of 6, 8, and 10 h, for EDR. The catalytic evaluation was carried out at 650 °C, 1 bar, and 30,000 mL g-1 h-1 for 8 h. The results showed that hydrothermal aging time influenced the catalyst properties and catalytic performance. The catalyst aged for 8 h developed a distinct dendritic structure, a surface area of 208.9 m2 g-1, and distributed hierarchical porosity. During EDR, the 8h Co/FZSM-5 catalyst sustained stable ethanol conversion and produced a favorable H2/CO ratio of 1.55. By contrast, the 6h catalyst showed low crystallinity, while the 10h catalyst underwent extended crystal growth that limited mass transfer. TGA results further showed that the 8h catalyst limited carbon deposition more effectively and exhibited less deactivation better than the other samples. These findings provide practical guidance for catalyst design and support the development of more resource-efficient reforming processes.

Keywords: Fibrous zeolite; Cobalt-based catalyst; Hydrothermal; H2/CO; Coke suppression; EDR; Dry reforming

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Section: 3rd International Symposium of Reaction Engineering, Catalysis and Sustainable Energy 2025 (RECASE 2025)
Language : EN
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