Hydrogen production from the oxidative steam reforming of methanol over AuCu nanoparticles supported on Ce1-xZrxO2 in a fixed-bed reactor

Oxidative steam reforming of methanol over monometallic gold (Au) and bimetallic Au-copper (Cu) supported on ceria-zirconia (CeO2ZrO2) was examined over the temperature range of 200–400 °C in a fixed-bed reactor. The composition of CeO2ZrO2 supports was also studied for their catalytic activity. The Au/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalyst exhibited the highest methanol (CH3OH) conversion level (96.7%) and hydrogen (H2) yield (59.7%) due to the formation of a homogeneous Ce1-xZrxO2 solid solution. When Cu was introduced in the Au catalysts, all of the bimetallic catalysts presented a better stability for CH3OH conversion as well as H2 yield in comparison to the monometallic catalysts, which was due to the partial electron transfer from Cu to Au metals. The performance of the AuCu/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalysts, which was evaluated under identical conditions, was ranked in the order: 3Au1Cu > 1Au3Cu > 1Au1Cu.