Interplay of support chemistry and reaction conditions on copper catalyzed methanol steam reforming

A series of Cu catalysts supported on SiO 2 , Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 , TiO 2 rutile, and Cu/TiO 2 anatase metal oxides has been studied for methanol reforming in the vapor phase.The highest activity was obtained on Cu/SiO 2 catalysts (5493 μmol H 2 min -1 •g cat -1) followed by Cu/TiO 2 rutile, Cu/ Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 , and anatase.XRD and HRTEM characterization after reaction revealed that on Cu/SiO 2 significant sintering occurred during reaction.In contrast, the particle size growth on Cu/TiO 2 rutile and anatase was less pronounced, which could be associated with the interaction between Cu clusters and TiO 2 .Characterization by TGA showed that on Cu/Al 2 O 3 -SiO 2 the main cause of deactivation was coke deposition.