Oxidative methanol steam reforming (OSRM) on a PdZnAl hydrotalcite derived catalyst

Catalytic systems for the oxidative methanol reforming (OSMR) with a 1% and 2% metal loading were prepared impregnating the spinel-oxide mixture (ZnAl2O4/ZnO) obtained by thermal decomposition of a Zn–Al hydrotalcite at 1173 K with palladium nitrate solution. The samples, after thermal treatment in reducing conditions, were characterized by TEM and XRD. The catalysts showed a quite good catalytic activity in the reaction under study with high methanol conversion and good selectivity to CO2. The high activity and selectivity were attributed to the prevailing presence, on the catalyst surface, of a highly dispersed 1:1 PdZn alloy phase.