Hydrogen production by oxidative steam reforming of methanol over Au/CeO2 catalysts

The production of hydrogen by oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM) was investigated over a series of Au/CeO2 catalysts prepared by deposition-precipitation. The optimum operating conditions over 5 wt% Au/CeO2 (calcined at 400 degrees C, GHSV = 30000 mL/h-g(cat) T = 300 degrees C, H2O/CH3OH molar ratio = 2/1, and O-2/CH3OH molar ratio = 1.25/1) could be suggested to obtain 100% methanol conversion and 24.5% hydrogen yield. Additionally, the Au catalyst having an average particle size of 10.04 nm and the highest amount of Au-0 species (active sites for the OSRM reaction) on the catalyst support exhibited the highest activity. Based on the stability observation, the catalyst exhibited high catalytic activity over a long period, even though catalyst deactivation caused by both coke formation and sintering was found. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.