High-temperature steam reforming of methanol over ZnO-Al2O3 catalysts

▶ ZnO-Al2O3 is an efficient catalyst for high-temperature steam reforming of methanol. ▶ The catalyst is inexpensive and environmental benign. ▶ No deactivation of ZnO-Al2O3 with ZnO/(ZnO + Al2O3) molar ratio of 0.50 is observed during the 200 h continuous operation. ▶ The octahedral Zn2+ ions in Zn-rich non-stoichiometric ZnAl2O4 favor the formation of CO. ▶ Reverse water gas shift and methanol decomposition reactions are involved in the formation of CO.