New supported Pd and Pt alloy catalysts for steam reforming and dehydrogenation of methanol

The catalytic performances of supported Group 8-10 metal (Co, Ni, Ru, Pd, Ir and Pt) catalysts for steam reforming of methanol, CH3OH + H2O --> CO2 + 3H(2); and dehydrogenation of methanol to methyl formate, 2CH(3)OH --> HCOOCH3 + 2H(2), are markedly affected by the kinds of supports as well as the metals used. The selectivity for steam reforming and the formation of methyl formate was markedly improved when Pd or Pt were supported on ZnO, In2O3 and Ga2O3. The combined results of temperature-programmed reduction, XRD, XPS and AES revealed that Pd-Zn, Pd-In, Pd-Ga, Pt-Zn, Pt-In and Pt-Ga alloys were formed upon reduction. Over the catalysts having an alloy phase, the reactions proceeded selectively, whereas over the catalysts having a metallic phase, methanol was decomposed to carbon monoxide and hydrogen predominantly. It was shown that the reactivity of formaldehyde intermediate over the Pd and Pt alloys was markedly different from that over metallic Pd and Pt. Over Pd and Pt alloys, aldehyde species were stabilized and transformed into carbon dioxide and hydrogen or methyl formate by nucleophilic addition of water or methanol, respectively. By contrast, over metallic Pd and Pt, aldehyde species were rapidly decarbonylated to carbon monoxide and hydrogen.