Effect of oxygen addition in steam reforming of methanol using CuZnAl and CuZnFe for hydrogen production

Abstract

In this study, production of hydrogen-rich gas using Oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM) process using CuZnAl and CuZnFe catalysts was investigated. (Cu:Zn:Al: 40/50/10) and (Cu:Zn:Fe:45/50/5) catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method and characterized by XRD and SEM, then evaluated in OSRM process at the temperature range of 230-290 °C, water to methanol molar ratio equal to 2 and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 18000 ml/g.h. In order to investigate the effect of oxygen content in the process, different oxygen to methanol ratios (0.5, 1 and 1.5) in feed have been tested. Results show that the oxygen addition to the process feed with CuZnAl catalyst has increased methanol conversion in comparison with reforming reaction and the optimal ratio of oxygen to methanol in the OSRM process is equal to 1. 45Cu50Zn5Fe catalyst was also studied in Steam reforming of methanol (SRM) and OSRM processes. This catalyst showed better performance in SRM process, but in the OSRM process it did not perform well with lower methanol conversion.