Interplay of Support Chemistry and Reaction Conditions on Copper Catalyzed Methanol Steam Reforming.

A series of Cu catalysts supported on SiO, AlO-SiO, TiO rutile, and Cu/TiO anatase metal oxides has been studied for methanol reforming in the vapor phase. The highest activity was obtained on Cu/SiO catalysts (5493 μmol H min·g) followed by Cu/TiO rutile, Cu/AlO-SiO, and anatase. XRD and HRTEM characterization after reaction revealed that on Cu/SiO significant sintering occurred during reaction. In contrast, the particle size growth on Cu/TiO rutile and anatase was less pronounced, which could be associated with the interaction between Cu clusters and TiO. Characterization by TGA showed that on Cu/AlO-SiO the main cause of deactivation was coke deposition.