Effect of the alloy on micro-structured reactors for methanol steam reforming

•Micro-monoliths and foams made of Al, Fecralloy and brass were studied for MSR.•Pd/ZnO catalyst was prepared and deposited on structured substrates by washcoating.•Substrates reacted with the catalyst modifying their activity.•The Al based substrates promoted DME formation.•Foams produced better performance than monoliths due to the turbulent flow pattern.

Micro-monoliths and foams made of aluminium, Fecralloy® and brass were studied as substrates for structured systems for methanol steam reforming (MSR). All the alloys exhibited very adherent oxide layer produced by pre-treatment to improve the adhesion between substrate and catalyst. 2.5% Pd/ZnO catalyst was prepared and deposited on structured substrates. Both, good catalyst adhesion and stable catalytic performance were achieved in the case of brass micro-monoliths. The Fecralloy® and aluminium substrates reacted with the catalytic active components resulting in catalyst modification. The aluminium based substrates promoted dimethyl ether (DME) formation. Aluminium foam produced better performance than aluminium micro-monoliths that could be related to improved mass and heat transfer properties in foams.

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