Fuel cell grade hydrogen from methanol on a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst

Abstract This paper presents the results of experiments of the methanol decomposition reaction catalyzed by a commercial Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 in the absence and presence of water. Methanol decomposition of 100% in the absence of water was obtained at 290 °C and a space velocity of 2 cm3/h g cat. At these conditions, the hydrogen yield was 1.9–2.0. Water addition to the feed increased the yield of hydrogen and reduced the formation of: dimethyl ether; methyl formate and methane. The variation of the catalyst’s activity and selectivity with time, temperature and feed composition was consistent with previous studies of methanol–steam reforming and water–gas shift reaction, however, this appears to be the first study over the same catalyst of methanol decomposition and methanol–steam reforming. XPS analysis of used catalyst samples and time on-stream data showed that the Cu2+ oxidation state of copper favors methanol decomposition, and we propose that the deactivation of the catalyst is mainly caused by the change in the oxidation state of copper.