Influence of preparation method on performance of Cu/Zn-based catalysts for low-temperature steam reforming and oxidative steam reforming of methanol for H2 production for fuel cells

Several methods (impregnation, co-precipitation and hydrothermal synthesis) have been comparatively examined for the preparation of precursors to Cu/Zn/Al catalysts. Steam reforming and oxidative steam reforming of methanol was performed using the laboratory-prepared and a commercial Cu/Zn/Al catalysts at a relatively low temperature (230degreesC) for catalytic production of H-2. The, results show that the preparation method significantly affects the catalyst performance with respect to methanol conversion, H-2 yield and CO concentration. The catalyst with lower copper-reduction temperature shows higher activity for methanol conversion at lower temperature. The best Cu/Zn/Al catalyst has been prepared by a co-precipitation method, which shows high activity for methanol conversion (99-100%) and H-2 production (71-76%) with very low CO concentration (0.05-0.15%) in steam reforming (H2O/methanol = 1.43mol ratio) and in oxidative steam reforming (O-2/methanol 0.158-0.474 mol ratio) at a low temperature (230degreesC). (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.