Hydrogen production by the catalytic steam reforming of methanol: Part 3: Kinetics of methanol decomposition using C18HC catalyst

Abstract

Abstract The rate of catalytic decomposition of methanol in the presence of steam has been studied using a commercial CuO‐ZnO‐Al 2 O 3 . low temperature shift catalyst from 150‐270°C at one atmosphere pressure in a fixed bed reactor. Mole ratios of steam to methanol of 0.66. 1.0 and 1.5 and catalyst mass to molar feed rate ratios of 25 to 1025 kg. s. mol −1 were utilized. The data were correlated and equations developed to successfully predict methanol conversions and carbon monoxide concentrations in the product gas stream over the temperature range studied. No evidence of mass transfer limitations was observed.