Effect of ZrO2 on steam reforming of methanol over CuO/ZnO/ZrO2/Al2O3 catalysts

Abstract The CuO/ZnO/ZrO 2 /Al 2 O 3 catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method and the effects of ZrO 2 on steam reforming of methanol over CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts with various CuO/ZnO ratios (40/50–10/80) were examined and discussed. Zirconium oxide improved the dispersion and reducibility of the CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts and promoted the adsorption of methanol. The promoting effect of ZrO 2 was observed only on the CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 with the CuO/ZnO ratio less than 0.8. A lower CuO/ZnO ratio in the CuO/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalysts was associated with greater promoting effect of ZrO 2 in the SRM reactions, which depend on appropriate interactions through the interface between CuO and ZnO.