Hydrogen production with a low carbon monoxide content via methanol steam reforming over CuxCeyMgz/Al2O3 catalysts: Optimization and stability.

Catalytic activities of Ce–Mg promoted Cu/Al 2 O 3 catalysts via methanol steam reforming was investigated in terms of the methanol conversion level, carbon monoxide selectivity and hydrogen yield. The factors chosen were the reaction temperature, copper content, Mg/(Ce + Mg) weight-percentage and steam to carbon ratios. The catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation and characterized by means of XRD, BET, H 2 -TPR, and FESEM. The Ce–Mg bi-promoter catalysts gave higher performance due to magnesium penetration into the cerium structure causing oxygen vacancy defects on the ceria. A response-surface-model was then designed to optimize the condition at a 95% confidence interval for complete methanol conversion to a high H 2 yield with a low CO content, and revealed an optimal copper level of 46–50 wt%, Mg/(Ce + Mg) of 16.2–18.0%, temperature of 245–250 °C and S/C ratio of 1.74–1.80. No deactivation of the Cu 0.5 Ce 0.25 Mg 0.05 /Al catalyst was observed during a 72-h stability test. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]