Producing hydrogen by catalytic steam reforming of methanol using non-noble metal catalysts

Current energy systems have a significant environmental impact and contribute to the climate change. The future energy systems must call upon clean and renewable sources, capable of producing energy with low CO₂ emission, hence partly decarbonizing the energy sector. Producing H₂ by catalytic steam reforming of methanol (CSRM) is gaining interest for its specific applications in fuel cells, in a decentralized H₂ production, or to locally boost the heat content of e.g. natural gas. Supported metal catalysts enhance the endothermic steam-driven methanol conversion. The paper discusses the CSRM manufactures and assesses 2 novel, cheap and efficient catalysts (Co/α-Al₂O₃ and MnFe₂O₄). The performance of the Co/α-Al₂O₃ catalyst is significantly superior to MnFe₂O₄. The methanol conversion exceeds 95% with high H₂ yields (>2.5 mol H₂/mol CH₃OH) and low CO and CO₂ by-product formation. The methanol reaction is very fast and a nearly constant product distribution is achieved for gas-catalyst contact times in excess of 0.3 s. The catalyst maintains its efficiency and selectivity for several days of reaction. The hydrogen productivity of the Co/α-Al₂O₃ is about 0.9 L H₂ g_cat^-1 h^-1., nearly a fourfold of the MnFe₂O₄ alternative. The different occurring reactions are combined in a kinetics analysis and demonstrate the high rate of reaction and the predicted product distribution. A catalytic sintered metal fleece reactor is finally developed, mostly in view of its integration with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC). The assessed CSRM system clearly merits further pilot plant research.