Performance of the ZrO2 promoted Cu[sbnd]ZnO catalyst supported on acetic acid-treated MCM-41 in methanol steam reforming.

Abstract ZrO 2 -promoted Cu ZnO catalysts were prepared through the sol-gel, conventional impregnation and modified impregnation methods using MCM-41 as support material and applied to the methanol steam reforming (MSR) reaction. The synthesized catalysts were characterized by the XRD, BET, FESEM, TEM, XRF, FTIR, H 2 -TPR and TGA methods. The determined physiochemical properties suggested that pretreatment of MCM-41 with acetic acid before metal impregnation remarkably decreases the size of the metal particles and improves their dispersion and reduction behavior. Among the synthesized catalysts, the Cu ZnO ZrO 2 /MCM-41 sample prepared through the modified impregnation method exhibited the best catalytic performance with 97.8% methanol conversion, 99.0% H 2 selectivity, 0.4% CO selectivity and the lowest level of coke deposition, at 300 °C. In addition, all catalysts resisted against deactivation by conserving their catalytic activity over 40 h operation, indicating that the use of high surface area MCM-41 as support, the ZrO 2 promoter, and the proper synthesis methods significantly enhanced the catalytic activity in the MSR process. Graphical abstract Image 1 Highlights • MCM-41 was used as a catalyst support in methanol steam reforming reaction. • Copper, zinc and zirconium were doped on MCM-41 by different methods. • Zirconium addition had a good effect on catalytic activity. • Treatment of MCM-41 before impregnation significantly reduced metal particles size. • Cu ZnO ZrO 2 /MCM-41 catalyst showed high catalytic activity in methanol steam reforming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]