Performance of Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 Catalysts Prepared by Sol–Gel Methods on Methanol Steam Reforming

Yongsheng Li, Chunhuan Luo () and Qingquan Su ()
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Yongsheng Li: School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Chunhuan Luo: School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China
Qingquan Su: School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, 30 Xueyuan Road, Haidian District, Beijing 100083, China

Energies, 2023, vol. 16, issue 23, 1-15

Abstract: Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts were prepared for online methanol steam reforming (MSR) using a conventional sol–gel method in this study. The optimal preparation conditions, including the calcination temperature, Cu loading, molar ratio of citric acid to metal ions (CA/M), and pH, were investigated. CZA50 exhibited the highest MSR activity among all catalysts. It was prepared at a calcination temperature of 350 °C; Cu, Zn, and Al molar fractions of 50%, 30%, and 20%; CA/M of 1.5; and without adjusting pH. Furthermore, a modified sol–gel method was proposed to enhance the mechanical strength of Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts by using γ-Al 2 O 3 powders as catalyst precursors instead of aluminum nitrates. In this modified method, part of Cu 2+ and Zn 2+ ions were impregnated firstly on γ-Al 2 O 3 powders, and then the remaining metal ions formed sol–gel with citric acid. MCZA-0.25 catalysts prepared by this modified method showed superior catalytic activity at an Al/(Cu+Zn) ratio of 0.25. The methanol conversion rates of CZA50, MCZA-025, and CZA-Commercial were 82.9%, 79.4%, and 74.7% at the temperature of 200 °C and methanol liquid phase space velocity (LHSV) of 1.0/h, respectively. The average crushing strength of CZA50, MCZA-0.25, and CZA-Commercial were measured as 28 N/cm, 37 N/cm, and 32 N/cm, respectively.

Keywords: online hydrogen production; methanol steam reforming; conventional/modified sol–gel method; Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3; crushing strength (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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