Reforming of methanol to produce hydrogen over the Au/ZnO catalyst

Abstract

Gold particle with an average size of dAu ~ 4 nm was dispersed on ZnO by the deposition precipitation method. The fabricated Au/ZnO catalyst was used to produce hydrogen from reforming of methanol. Four reforming reactions, i.e., decomposition of methanol (DM), steam reforming of methanol (SRM), partial oxidation of methanol (POM) and oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM), were evaluated in a fixed bed reactor. A reaction temperature of TR > 623 K was required for catalyzing reactions of DM and SRM. Interestingly, high methanol conversion (CMeOH > 90%) was found from reforming reactions of POM and OSRM at an amazing low temperature of TR < 473 K. Besides, a presentable hydrogen yield (RH2 ~ 2.4) and a low selectivity of CO (SCO ~ 1%) were simultaneously attained from the reaction of OSRM. Therefore, the low temperature OSRM reaction over the Au/ZnO catalyst is suggested as a friendly reforming process for on-board production of hydrogen.