Steam Reforming of Methanol: Alumina Addition on Performance of CuO/ZnO/CeO2 Nanocatalyst

Two nanocatalysts CuO/ZnO/CeO2 and CuO/ZnO/CeO2/Al2O3 were synthesized via urea nitrate combustion synthesismethod to investigate alumina addition effect. Alumina addition increase surface area, stabilize catalysts and preventCu sintering. Analyses such as XRD, FESEM and BET were used to investigate physicochemical properties offabricated catalysts. XRD patterns besides indicating the decline of the peaks intensity, proved the potential of aluminain diminishing the crystal size and improving CuO, ZnO dispersion especially CeO2. Moreover, high surface area mightderive of smaller particle size and uniform morphology of alumina containing samples, confirmed by FESEM and BETanalysis. Finally catalytic performance studies confirmed improving effect of alumina and declaredCuO/ZnO/CeO2/Al2O3 as nanocatalyst with better results.

Keywords:

CuO/ZnO/CeO2 , Methanol , Hydrogen , Alumina , Steam Reforming