Modification of Cu/Zn/Al2O3 Catalyst by Activated Carbon Based Metal Organic Frameworks as Precursor for Hydrogen Production

In this study, Cu/Zn/Al2O3-AC (AC = activated carbon) catalyst was synthesized and evaluated for dimethoxymethane (DMM) reformation to hydrogen. The Cu/Zn/Al2O3-AC catalyst was prepared using high surface area metal organic frameworks (MOFs) consisting of Cu-3(BTC)(2) (MOF-199) and Zn4O(BDC)(3) (MOF-5) for Cu(II) and Zn(II) sources respectively, as precursors while gamma-Al2O3 was applied as support. The synthesized catalyst was investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller analysis (BET), Temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD) and Energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques. Complete DMM conversion was observed over Cu/Zn/Al2O3-AC catalyst (Cu:Zn:Al mole ratio of 6:3:2) under atmospheric pressure, T = 533 K, GHSV = 20 NL h(-1) g(cat) (-1), N-2/H2O/DMM = 24/5/1 volume percent (vol%) with hydrogen productivity of 12.8 L H-2 h(-1) g(cat) (-1) and 64% hydrogen concentration. Application of MOFs as precursors and modified activated carbon as an acidic component provided the catalyst with the porous structure and high specific surface area for the hydrolysis of DMM, subsequently, high selectivity and productivity of hydrogen was obtained.