Comparison of a commercial water-gas shift catalyst and La modified Cu-based catalysts prepared by deposition-precipitation in methanol steam reforming

Authors: ORHAN ÖZCAN, AYŞE NİLGÜN AKIN

Abstract: Herein, a performance analysis of La-doped copper-based catalysts (CuO/ZrO₂/La-Al₂O₃) in methanol steam reforming (MSR) was conducted and compared with a commercial low temperature water-gas shift catalyst (HiFUEL W220) to produce H₂ with low CO selectivity. The physicochemical properties of as-obtained catalysts were characterized by N₂ adsorption, XRD, and ICP-OES. Effect of calcination temperature (750 ^oC and 1000 ^oC) on the properties of mixed oxide support (La-Al₂O₃) were discussed based on catalytic activity. The optimum conditions of H₂₃O/CH₃OH ratio (1.0-3.0), space-time ratio (W_FA0) (40-120 kg s mol^-1), and reaction temperature (180-310 ^oC) were evaluated by a parametric study using the commercial catalyst (HF220). Additionally, thermodynamic equilibrium calculations of experimentally identified components by using Aspen HYSYS process simulation software were also performed to analyze MSR process. The results were indicated that the calcination temperature significantly affected the structural properties and the activity with respect to CO selectivity. An increasing trend in CO selectivity for catalysts with supports calcined at 750 ^oC and a decreasing trend for catalysts with supports calcined at 1000 ^oC were observed. Hence, CZ30LA₇₅₀ and CZ30LA₁₀₀₀ catalysts were selected to attain low CO selectivity and comparable activity when compared to other catalysts and the simulated thermodynamic calculation results.

Keywords: Hydrogen production, methanol steam reforming, sonochemical coprecipitation, lanthanum

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