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Abstract

The aim of this work is to study the catalytic properties and the role of copper in the steam reforming of methanol. The production of hydrogen by methanol steam reforming has been studied over a series of Cu/carbon catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation of ordered mesoporous carbons (CMK-5 and CMK-3) and activated carbon (Kugelkohle) supports. Samples were characterised by X-ray diffraction, N₂ -physisorption, transmission electron microscopy and temperature programmed reduction techniques. A copper loading up to 22 wt.-% was achieved, with particle sizes below 5 nm for the activated carbon and CMK-5 support, and 10 nm for the CMK-3 support, respectively. Carbon supported copper nanoparticles have shown maximum hydrogen yields of up to 97% of those achieved over an industrial Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst system.
Zinc was added to the copper/carbon systems in order to establish the possible influence of this element on the activity of the resultant catalytic system. A decrease of the overall hydrogen production for all zinc containing catalysts in comparison with Cu/carbon materials was observed.