Performance of microchannel reactor combined with combustor for methanol steam reforming

The microchannel reactor with combustor for methanol steam reforming was fabricated to produce hydrogen for onboard proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell device. A commercial copper-containing catalyst (Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃) and Pt/ZrO₂ were used as a catalyst for methanol steam reforming and combustion reaction, respectively. It was found that catalyst layer with zirconia sol solution in microchannel showed no crack on the surface of catalyst layer and an excellent adherence to stainless steel microchannel even after reaction. The temperature of combustor could be controlled between 200 and 300 °C depending on the methanol feed rate. The hydrogen flow of 3.9 l h⁻¹ hydrogen was obtained with the reforming feed flow rate of 3.65 ml h⁻¹ at 270 °C.     

Preparation and characterization of Ir-based catalysts on metallic supports for high-temperature steam reforming of methanol

Ir-based catalysts on heat-resisting foil supports with different washcoats were investigated for hydrogen production by high-temperature steam reforming of methanol. Al₂O₃, Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂–Al₂O₃, Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂/Al₂O₃ and Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂ coatings were prepared on the metallic supports and iridium was deposited on them as the active component. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), ultrasonic vibration test, scanning electron microscope (SEM) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The performance of the catalysts for steam reforming of methanol was evaluated with a fixed-bed reactor. It was found that the phase structure, the shape of the surface particles and the coating adherence were different from each other for the four kinds of coatings. The activities, selectivities and stabilities of these Ir-based catalysts on metallic supports were compared to select the optimal one for use in high-temperature methanol steam reforming. The results indicated that the Ir/Ce_0.8Zr_0.2O₂/Al₂O₃/FeCrAl catalyst showed better performance than the other catalysts, which is a promising candidate for hydrogen production via the methanol steam reforming process in Pd membrane reactors.     

Comparison of supports for the direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from H2 and O2 using Au–Pd catalysts

The direct synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from H₂ and O₂ using a range of supported Au–Pd alloy catalysts is compared for different supports using conditions previously identified as being optimal for hydrogen peroxide synthesis, i.e. low temperature (2 °C) using a water–methanol solvent mixture and short reaction time. Five supports are compared and contrasted, namely Al₂O₃, -Fe₂O₃, TiO₂, SiO₂ and carbon. For all catalysts the addition of Pd to the Au only catalyst increases the rate of hydrogen peroxide synthesis as well as the concentration of hydrogen peroxide formed. Of the materials evaluated, the carbon-supported Au–Pd alloy catalysts give the highest reactivity. The results show that the support can have an important influence on the synthesis of hydrogen peroxide from the direct reaction. The effect of the methanol–water solvent is studied in detail for the 2.5 wt% Au–2.5 wt% Pd/TiO₂ catalyst and the ratio of methanol to water is found to have a major effect on the rate of hydrogen peroxide synthesis. The optimum mixture for this solvent system is 80 vol.% methanol with 20 vol.% water. However, the use of water alone is still effective albeit at a decreased rate. The effect of catalyst mass was therefore also investigated for the water and water–methanol solvents and the observed effect on the hydrogen peroxide productivity using water as a solvent is not considered to be due to mass transfer limitations. These results are of importance with respect to the industrial application of these Au–Pd catalysts.     

Ethanol steam reforming over Ni/La–Al2O3 catalysts: Influence of lanthanum loading

Hydrogen production from ethanol reforming over nickel catalysts supported on lanthanum loaded Al₂O₃ substrates was studied. Activity results revealed the enhancement in the reforming stability of the Ni catalysts with the increase in the lanthanum loading on Al₂O₃ substrates. Catalytic behavior of Ni/La–Al₂O₃ catalysts in the ethanol steam reforming was found to be the contribution of the activity of the La–Al₂O₃ supports for the ethanol dehydration reaction and the activity of the nickel metallic phase that catalyzes both dehydrogenation and CC bond rupture. Physicochemical characterization of catalysts revealed that acidity, nickel dispersion and nickel-support interaction depend on the La-loading on Al₂O₃. The better reforming stability of catalysts with the increase in La content was explained in terms of the ability of nickel surface and/or La–Ni interactions to prevent the formation of carbon filaments.     

Production of hydrogen via partial oxidation of methanol over Au/TiO2 catalysts

Selective production of hydrogen by partial oxidation of methanol (CH₃OH + (1/2)O₂ → 2H₂ + CO₂) over Au/TiO₂ catalysts, prepared by a deposition–precipitation method, was studied. The catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, and XPS analyses. TEM observations show that the Au/TiO₂ catalysts exhibit hemispherical gold particles, which are strongly attached to the metal oxide support at their flat planes. The size of the gold particles decreases from 3.5 to 1.9 nm during preparation of the catalysts with the rise in pH from 6 to 9 and increases from 2.9 to 4.3 nm with the rise in calcination temperature up to 673 K. XPS analyses demonstrate that in uncalcined catalysts gold existed in three different states: i.e., metallic gold (Au⁰), non-metallic gold (Au^δ+) and Au₂O₃, and in catalysts calcined at 573 K only in metallic state. The catalytic activity is strongly dependent on the gold particle size. The catalyst precipitated at pH 8 and uncalcined catalysts show the highest activity for hydrogen generation. The partial pressure of oxygen plays an important role in determining the product distribution. There is no carbon monoxide detected when the O₂/CH₃OH molar ratio in the feed is 0.3. Both hydrogen selectivity and methanol conversion increase with increasing the reaction temperature. The reaction pathway is suggested to consist of consecutive methanol combustion, partial oxidation and steam reforming.     

木炭水蒸气催化气化制取合成气

以木炭为原料,选用KOH、K₂CO₃、KHCO₃、KNO₃为催化剂,在上吸式固定床气化炉中,进行水蒸气催化气化制取合成气实验。考察了不同催化剂、催化剂用量、水蒸气流量、气化温度对木炭水蒸气气化的炭转化率、产氢率、气体组成体积分数和H₂/CO值的影响。实验通过炭吸收催化剂溶液来负载催化剂,实验结果表明：4种催化剂都可提高木炭气化效率,在浸渍相同质量分数的催化剂溶液下,催化活性顺序为KOH>K₂CO₃>KHCO₃>KNO₃。碳转化率及产氢率都随着催化剂溶液浓度的增加而增大,但浓度过高增加趋势逐渐变缓,催化剂溶液质量分数在4%~6%较为合适。增加水蒸气流量,气体产物中H₂体积分数增大,H₂/CO值增大。升高温度可促进炭气化反应,950℃时碳转化率和产氢率分别达到98.7%和145.23g/kg。实验可得到H₂/CO比1.53~4.09范围间的合成气,可用于合成甲醇、甲烷、二甲醚等燃料。     

Sorption enhanced hydrogen production by steam methane reforming using Li2ZrO3 as sorbent: Sorption kinetics and reactor simulation

The kinetics of CO₂ sorption on a solid adsorbent, namely lithium zirconate, have been studied in an oscillating microbalance. The solid sorbent has been prepared by a novel route resulting in a high capacity, good stability and much improved sorption rates, making it suitable for its application in sorption enhanced hydrogen production by steam methane reforming. A kinetic equation for the sorption kinetics as a function of CO₂ partial pressure and temperature has been developed. The hydrogen production by sorption enhanced reaction process has been simulated by a dynamic one-dimensional pseudo-homogenous model of a fixed-bed reactor, where a hydrotalcite-derived Ni catalyst has been used as steam reforming catalysts. Simulation results show that hydrogen purer than 95% with a concentration of carbon monoxide lower than 0.2 mol% can be produced in a single step.     

In situ combustion synthesis of structured Cu-Ce-O and Cu-Mn-O catalysts for the production and purification of hydrogen

The combustion method was employed for the in situ synthesis of nanocrystalline Cu-Ce-O and Cu-Mn-O catalyst layers on Al metal foam, without the need of binder or additional calcination steps. Copper-manganese spinel oxides have been proposed as a catalytic system for hydrogen production via methanol steam reforming, while CuO-CeO₂ catalysts have been successfully examined for CO removal from reformed fuels via selective oxidation. In this work, the performance of these catalysts supported on Al metal foam has been investigated in the reactions of methanol reforming and selective CO oxidation. The Cu-Ce-O foam catalyst exhibited similar catalytic performance to the one of the powder catalyst in the selective oxidation of CO. The performance of the Cu-Mn-O foam catalyst in the steam reforming of methanol was inferior to the one of the powder catalyst at intermediate conversion levels, but almost complete conversion of methanol was obtained at the same temperature with both foam and powder catalysts.     

Liquid phase methanol reforming with water over silica supported Pt–Ru catalysts

The mechanism of the liquid phase methanol reforming reaction over silica supported Pt–Ru catalyst was investigated by kinetic studies, employing a pyrex glass reactor with reflux condensers connected to a closed gas circulation system under ambient pressure. The rate of H₂ formation over Pt–Ru/SiO₂ catalysts was more than 20 times faster than that over Pt/SiO₂ catalysts with high selectivity for CO₂ (72.3%), indicating a marked addition effect of Ru. In the case of HCHO–H₂O reaction over Pt–Ru/SiO₂, the H₂ formation rate was five times larger than that in the CH₃OH–H₂O reaction but selectivity to CO₂ was only 4%. On the contrary, in the HCOOCH₃–H₂O and HCOOH–H₂O reactions, both high activity and selectivity were observed over Pt–Ru/SiO₂. These results clearly indicate that the CO₂ formation does not proceed via HCHO decomposition and following water gas shift reaction. We propose the following pathway for liquid phase methanol reforming reaction over Pt–Ru/SiO₂; a partly dehydrogenated methanol (CH₂OH^*) is the initial reaction intermediate, from which H₂ and CO₂ are formed through HCOOCH₃ and HCOOH as the successive reaction intermediates.     

吸附强化焦油蒸汽重整制取氢气

分别采用固相反应法、溶胶凝胶法制备了Ni/Mg-Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃催化剂、CaO-Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃吸附剂,并将其作为重整催化剂、CO₂吸附剂应用在焦油蒸汽重整制取氢气的研究中,通过与普通蒸汽重整进行对比,系统地研究了重整温度、S/C比（反应体系中水蒸气与碳元素的摩尔比）、质量空速对焦油吸附强化蒸汽重整制氢特性的影响。结果表明,CO₂吸附剂的加入能够有效提升焦油重整效果,氢气产率、体积分数均得到显著提高,其中氢气体积分数达95%以上。随着S/C比的增加、质量空速的减小,普通蒸汽重整和吸附强化重整的制氢效果均是增强的,且均在S/C比、质量空速分别达到12：1、0.128 h⁻¹后增幅不再明显;尽管如此,相比普通重整,吸附强化重整降低了最佳重整制氢温度,在800℃时氢气产率能够达到87.35%。     

用于甲醇重整制氢的铜基催化剂研究进展

近年来,随着能源需求与日俱增,化石燃料的燃烧造成的温室效应使得地球气候变得更加恶劣,如何有效实现碳减排成为各国科学家的研究重点。将二氧化碳转化为绿色液体燃料(如甲醇)是一个重要方向。通过甲醇合成(MS)实现碳捕获,再在需要能量时进行甲醇水蒸气重整(MSR)制备氢气,实现二氧化碳的闭路循环和氢能的储存,因此MSR反应具有很高的研究价值。在众多应用于甲醇水蒸气重整的催化剂中,Cu基催化剂因其价格低廉和高活性等优点受到广泛关注。综述了Cu基催化剂在甲醇水蒸气重整中的研究进展,包括机理探索,催化剂优化及未来的发展方向,提出铜基催化剂中铜的高分散、价态调控和复合氧化物与铜的协同是性能优化的关键。     

Methane steam reforming over Ni/Ce–ZrO2 catalyst: Influences of Ce–ZrO2 support on reactivity, resistance toward carbon formation, and intrinsic reaction kinetics

Ni/Ce–ZrO₂ showed good methane steam reforming performance in term of stability toward the deactivation by carbon deposition. It was first observed that the catalyst with Ce/Zr ratio of 3/1 showed the best activity among Ni/Ce–ZrO₂ samples with the Ce/Zr ratios of 1/0, 1/1, 1/3, and 3/1. Temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) experiments indicated the excellent resistance toward carbon formation for this catalyst, compared to conventional Ni/Al₂O₃; the requirement of inlet H₂O/CH₄ to operate without the formation of carbon species is much lower. These benefits are related to the high oxygen storage capacity (OSC) of Ce–ZrO₂. During the steam reforming process, in addition to the reactions on Ni surface (*), the redox reactions between the gaseous components present in the system and the lattice oxygen (O_x) on Ce–ZrO₂ surface also take place. Among these reactions, the redox reactions between the high carbon formation potential compounds (CH₄, CH_x-*n and CO) and the lattice oxygen (O_x) can prevent the formation of carbon species from the methane decomposition and Boudard reactions, even at low inlet H₂O/CH₄ ratio (1.0/1.0).

Regarding the intrinsic kinetic studies in the present work, the reaction order in methane over Ni/Ce–ZrO₂ was observed to be approximately 1.0 in all conditions. The dependence of steam on the rate was non-monotonic, whereas addition of oxygen as an autothermal reforming promoted the rate but reduced CO and H₂ production selectivities. The addition of a small amount of hydrogen increased the conversion of methane, however, this positive effect became less pronounced and the methane conversion was eventually inhibited when high hydrogen concentration was added. Ni/Ce–ZrO₂ showed significantly stronger negative impact of hydrogen than Ni/Al₂O₃. The redox mechanism on ceria proposed by Otsuka et al. [K. Otsuka, T. Ushiyama, I. Yamanaka, Chem. Lett. (1993) 1517; K. Otsuka, M. Hatano, A. Morikawa, J. Catal. 79 (1983) 493; K. Otsuka, M. Hatano, A. Morikawa, Inorg. Chim. Acta 109 (1985) 193] can explain this high inhibition.     

Transient studies of carbon dioxide reforming of methane over Pt/ZrO2 and Pt/Al2O3

The mechanism of the CO₂ reforming of methane reaction over the Pt/ZrO₂ catalyst was investigated using a temporal analysis of products (TAP) reactor system. For comparative purposes, the reaction pathway using a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst was also examined. A reaction sequence is suggested for both catalysts. Over both catalysts, methane decomposition takes place over platinum. The main difference between the two catalysts concerns the carbon dioxide dissociation. Over Pt/Al₂O₃ this step is assisted by hydrogen. Over Pt/ZrO₂ this step takes place over the zirconia support and involves surface vacancies. Moreover, large pools of formate and carbonate species are present on the zirconia. Transient studies conducted to determine the origin of carbon species accumulated during CO₂ reforming revealed that more than 99% of the carbon was derived from the methane molecule over both catalysts. Over the Pt/ZrO₂ catalyst, only a single very reactive carbon species was detected, while over the Pt/Al₂O₃ a second less active species was also formed.     

Exhaust-gas reforming using precious metal catalysts

Rh-only and Rh bimetallic catalysts have been screened for exhaust-gas reforming, under conditions that mimic the output of an autoignition gasoline engine. Propane has been used as a model fuel, with simulated exhaust-gas providing the co-reactants (O₂ and H₂O) needed to generate hydrogen. Based on oxygen-conversion as a measure of light-off, Pt–Rh on ceria–zirconia shows the highest activity. In the presence of SO₂, adsorbed sulphur species do not inhibit the oxidation reactions that induce light-off, but suppress the major pathway to hydrogen (steam reforming). By excluding platinum and using silica-enriched alumina as the underlying support, light-off is delayed, but the steam reforming reaction becomes much more insensitive to the presence of sulphur. The Pt–Rh catalyst is most suited to exhaust-gas reforming systems in which the engine runs on a sulphur-free fuel, whereas the Rh-only catalyst is the better choice when the fuel is conventional gasoline.     

Oxidation and reforming reactions of CH4 on a stepped Pt(5 5 7) single crystal

The oxidation and reforming kinetics of methane by O₂, CO₂ and H₂O were studied on a stepped Pt(5 5 7) single crystal from 623 to 1050 K under methane rich conditions. The rate of carbon deposition was followed by ex-situ Auger electron spectroscopy under non-oxidative conditions. The apparent activation energy for methane decomposition was significantly lower than the apparent barriers measured for both total oxidation, CO₂ and H₂O reforming. Total oxidation of methane to CO₂ and H₂O followed by combined dry and steam reforming (combined combustion-reforming) led to CO production rates which were higher than direct CO₂ or H₂O reforming rates. The enhanced rates are most likely due to the ability of adsorbed oxygen to prevent carbon nucleation and/or scavenge carbon enabling the reforming reaction to turnover on a larger fraction of sites. Comparable amounts of carbon were found by Auger electron spectroscopy measurements after both direct dry or steam reforming, while combined oxidation-reforming had considerable less carbon. During direct dry or steam reforming, CO₂ and H₂O serve only to scavenge adsorbed atomic carbon, while in the presence of oxygen, carbon is removed by both combustion and reforming routes.     

吸附强化蒸汽重整制氢中CO2固体吸附剂的研究进展

吸附强化蒸汽重整（SESR）制氢技术是集重整反应（H₂生产）和选择性分离（CO₂吸附）于一体的新型技术。该技术的特点为采用固体吸附剂在高温下对CO₂进行原位脱除,以改变反应的正常平衡极限,提高烃类转化率,提高H₂产量,减少CO₂排放。在整个SESR制氢技术中,吸附剂的选择与反应条件至关重要。本文探讨了CaO、水滑石、Li₂ZrO₃、Li₂SiO₃以及双功能吸附剂在SESR制氢过程中的性能,总结了提高这些吸附剂吸附性能的不同方法。确定了固体吸附剂的反应条件,如温度、压力、水蒸气量等因素的影响及相关的反应机理。分析表明,CaO基吸附剂由于其低廉的价格及较高的吸附能力,被认为是最具潜力的吸附剂,然而在SESR制氢过程中,CaO基吸附剂面临着多次循环再生后吸附能力衰减的挑战。集吸附与催化双重功能的吸附催化材料由于可以克服SESR制氢中不同固体催化剂和吸附剂的匹配问题、降低所用固体材料的成本,从而使其在吸附强化蒸汽重整制氢方面具有巨大优势,并成为该领域未来研究的一个重要方向。     

Study of mixed steam and CO2 reforming of CH4 to syngas on MgO-supported metals

The activity of mixed steam and CO₂ reforming of CH₄ to produce synthesis gas was investigated and compared with those of steam reforming alone and CO₂ reforming alone at 600–900°C under atmosphere pressure on MgO-supported noble metals. Mixed reforming shows a far lower CH₄ conversion than the value for thermodynamic equilibrium. The activity decreases following the order Ru,Rh> Ir> Pt,Pd. Little deactivation was observed for Ru, Rh and Ir catalysts. An isotope labelled ¹³CO₂ experiment was carried out in situ for mixed reforming on Rh/MgO and the results suggest that CO₂ dissociates as CO-M and O-M. The results of the temperature program reaction (TPR) of mixed reforming shows that CH₄ adsorbs and dissociates before reaction starts and that CO₂ reforming and steam reforming start simultaneously. A possible reaction mechanism is discussed.     

小型碳基燃料水蒸气重整制氢装置研究

设计并加工了一种小型碳基燃料水蒸气重整制氢装置,该装置为不锈钢材料,采用集成式结构设计,使得加热、气化、重整、分散等多功能部件有机地结合在一起,大大减小了装置的设计尺寸,减小了装置占有空间,降低了装置成本,实现了小型、微型化的目的,便于移动、便携式制氢装置的推广。该反应器装载花状微球Ni/CeO₂催化剂,在重整性能测试中甲烷流量为1250mL/min时,水碳比H₂O/CH₄=2：1,560℃反应温度下,该反应器表现出了良好的重整制氢性能,重整气中氢气的组成达到70%以上,甲烷的含量降至16%以下,用于高温燃料电池发电的功率计算,满足500W功率设计要求,达到550W以上。实验表明这种重整制氢装置可用于高温燃料电池供氢系统。     

ZSM-5@t-ZrO2制备及其对甲硫醇催化合成影响机制

采用水热包覆法和物理共混法分别制备了ZSM-5@t-ZrO₂和ZSM-5/t-ZrO₂复合催化剂,并以ZSM-5和t-ZrO₂为对比参考,研究了不同结构催化剂的物化性质和催化性能。在此基础上,借助漫反射傅里叶变换红外光谱,考察了反应温度和预硫化操作对ZSM-5@t-ZrO₂复合催化剂上甲醇和硫化氢反应分子吸附转化的影响。结果表明,水热包覆环境修饰了ZSM-5@t-ZrO₂复合催化剂的物化性质,提升了甲醇硫醇化反应的催化性能和抗积碳积硫失活能力。在反应压力1 MPa、反应温度380 ℃、预硫化1 h、N₂流量100 mL/min的条件下,甲醇转化率、甲硫醇选择性及甲硫醇收率分别达到92.02%、90.56%和82.76%。硫化氢分子在ZSM-5@t-ZrO₂催化剂的碱位上吸附解离为巯基,进而攻击甲氧基,这是甲硫醇合成反应的速率控制步骤。380 ℃的反应温度和预硫化操作有助于构建形成匹配的甲氧基和巯基生成速率,在提高催化性能的同时还可有效降低积碳积硫形成速率。     

Catalysis of H2, CO and alkane oxidation–combustion over Pt/Silica catalysts: evidence of coupling and promotion

Results are presented on the oxidative–combustion reactions of H₂, CO, methane and propane over polycrystalline-powdered silica-supported catalysts containing Pt (and possibly oxide promoters, e.g. MnO₂, etc.) and the coupling of different combustion processes and also heterogeneous–homogeneous reactions. The Pt/silica catalysts appear to mature with use. Catalysed combustions take place, as expected, at far lower temperatures and with smaller activation energies than the homogeneous reactions. The role of added or intermediate (i.e. produced by alkane partial oxidation or steam reforming) H₂ in accelerating and lowering the temperatures of catalysed alkane combustions and hence minimising NO_x emission is considered with regard to the dispersion of the Pt, as is bifurcative–hysteretic combustion in the catalysed reaction, prevalent for CO, but less certain for H₂ or alkanes. CO decelerates the catalysed combustion of hydrogen on supported Pt (and may also do this for alkane combustion). Whether the acceleration due to intermediate H₂ in alkane combustion exceeds the deceleration due to intermediate CO remains to be seen, but it may be that the water–gas shift reaction moves the advantage to H₂. Further study by in situ methods will be needed to optimise and understand this coupling so that it can be used to maximise efficient alkane-catalysed combustion with minimum NO_x production. This should also lead to higher turnover numbers (which are at present quite low for propane-catalysed combustion).