Steam reforming of methanol on Ni/Al2O3 catalyst in a Pd-membrane reactor

The application of the membrane reactor to steam reforming of methanol was studied as a hydrogen producing reaction. The activities, stabilities and selectivities of Cu/ZnO, Ni/Al2O3 and Ru/Al2O3 catalysts were tested using a conventional fixed-bed flow reactor. Ni/Al2O3 catalyst showed the most stable activity at 723 K but relatively low hydrogen yield because of methanation. However, the hydrogen-permeable membrane reactor suppressed methanation and hydrogen yield was enhanced compared with the conventional reactor. The membrane reactor was more effective at higher temperatures and higher W/F.