Catalytic behaviour of transition metal carbides of group 5 in the methanol steam reforming

Transition metal carbides of group 5 (G5TMC=VC, NbC and TaC) with similar crystallite sizes were prepared by a sol-gel route. The catalysts were characterized and studied in the methanol steam reforming (MSR) reaction in the temperature range of 573–723 K at atmospheric pressure and using a stoichiometric CH3OH/H2O = 1/1 mole ratio mixture. Under the MSR reaction conditions used, the route of methanol transformation depends on the G5TMC used as catalyst. The catalytic behaviour of VC differs from that of NbC and TaC, which in turn show a similar behaviour. Over VC, methanol is mainly converted to a mixture of H2+CH4, whereas over NbC and TaC the major product obtained is HCHO, formed from the dehydrogenation of methanol.