Synergetic effect of combined use of Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 and Pt–Al2O3 for the steam reforming of methanol

Commercial Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 catalysts are used widely for steam reforming of methanol. However, the reforming reactions should be modified to avoid fuel cell catalyst poisoning originated from carbon monoxide. The modification was implemented by mixing the Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 catalyst with Pt–Al2O3 catalyst. The Pt–Al2O3 and Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 catalyst mixture created a synergetic effect because the methanol decomposition and the water–gas shift reactions occurred simultaneously over nearby Pt–Al2O3 and Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 catalysts in the mixture. A methanol conversion of 96.4% was obtained and carbon monoxide was not detected from the reforming reaction when the Pt–Al2O3 and Cu–ZnO–Al2O3 catalyst mixture was used.