Successful Application of Methanol-to-Hydrogen Catalyst Developed by Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry

The catalyst for green production of hydrogen through steam reforming of methanol developed by the team No. 308 of the Shanxi Institute of Coal Chemistry (SICC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) has been operating continuously for 2 months at a commercial unit with a hydrogen output equating to 100 m3per hour. The test results have verified the stable performance of this catalyst that can produce hydrogen with a purity meeting the needs of downstream units.

It is told that this catalyst is synthesized by a solid phase approach without discharging wastewater and waste gases and the preparation process is simple, green and environmentally benign. The hydrogen manufacture is realized through directly using reaction materials without pre-reduction with hydrogen to make the operation more convenient with the operation cost reduced by 10% as compared to the process, which adopts the existing commercial CuZnAl catalyst.

The hydrogen production technology through steam reforming of methanol has its competitive edge in the medium and small-sized hydrogen consumption area which has achieved an enhanced momentum of development recently, with the maximum applicable hydrogen output in China reaching 10 000 m3an hour. According to the industrial experts, the said catalyst developed by SICC has apparent environmental and cost advantages to become a newgeneration hydrogen production catalyst through steam reforming of methanol.