Statistical optimization of the composition of CuO–ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts for methanol steam reforming

In this work several CuO–ZnO/Al2O3 co-impregnated catalysts were tested for methanol steam reforming (MSR) in order to statistically optimize the Cu and Zn content. All catalysts showed initial deactivation, due to Cu sintering, which was detected by the BET area and transmission and scanning electronic microscopy analyses, performed before and after the reactions. The products obtained in the reactions were only H2 and CO2, and the formation of CO or coke was not verified. It was possible to adjust a second order equation to the methanol conversion (after 3 h in reaction) as a function of the Cu and Zn content, using the RStudio free program. The optimum composition obtained by the surface response methodology (RSM) was 20.7% Cu and 13.4% Zn, and the catalyst synthesized with this content (19.4% Cu–15.5% Zn) had the highest Cu area and dispersion and thus presented the highest methanol conversion, corroborating the statistical analysis.