Methanol Decomposition to Synthesis Gas over Supported Platinum-Containing Catalysts

Abstract

The properties of supported Pt-containing granular (Pt/Ce_0.75Zr_0.25O_{2 – δ}) and structured catalysts (Pt/Ce_0.75Zr_0.25O_{2 – δ}/η-Al₂O₃/FeCrAl) in methanol decomposition to synthesis gas for feeding solid oxide fuel cells have been studied. It has been shown that the use of a structured catalyst for the methanol decomposition reaction is promising. It has been found that the addition of a small amount of oxygen to the feed mixture hinders the formation of carbon and thereby increases the on-stream stability of the catalyst. At atmospheric pressure, a temperature of ≈400°C, a reaction mixture feed space velocity of 5.6 L/(g_cat h), and a CH₃OH : air volume ratio of 1, the proposed 0.15 wt % Pt/8 wt % Ce_0.75Zr_0.25O_{2 – δ}/6 wt % η-Al₂O₃/FeCrAl structured catalyst can provide a complete methanol conversion to synthesis gas with a total content of H₂ and CO of ≈64 vol % and a productivity with respect to synthesis gas of ≈6.7 L(H₂ + CO)/(g_cat h).