Hydrogen production employing Cu/Zn-BTC metal-organic framework on cordierite honeycomb ceramic support in methanol steam reforming process within a microreactor

Three metal-organic frameworks Cu-BTC, Zn-BTC, and Cu/Zn-BTC were prepared and impregnated in nitrate solutions to obtain the precursors. After calcination, three metal-BTC-derived CuO/ZnO/CeO2/ZrO2 catalysts were obtained. The samples were characterized and the catalyst-coated cordierite honeycomb ceramics were used in a microreactor for methanol steam reforming at different reaction conditions. Results showed that the Cu/Zn-BTC-derived catalyst exhibited the most fine and uniform particles, the best reducibility, the largest specific surface area, and the optimal surface elemental state due to the difference in the formation mechanisms, resulting in its remarkable catalytic performance. The ceramic support coated with Cu/Zn-BTC-derived catalyst could achieve 100% methanol conversion rate and 0.336 mol/h H2 output at 260 °C in the microreactor. Stability tests demonstrated that the Cu/Zn-BTC-derived catalyst could maintain its excellent performance without deactivation within 30 h continuous reaction, which was connected with the Ce–Zr–O solid solution with high concentration of oxygen vacancies and surface oxygen.