Methanol Steam Reforming on Cd–Zn/TiO2 and Cu–Zn/TiO2 Catalysts in a Microchannel Reactor

New Cd–Zn/TiO2 and Cu–Zn/TiO2 catalysts based on nanodispersed titanium(IV) oxide are synthesized and characterized via X-ray diffraction analysis, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, and temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen. The activity of the synthesized catalysts in methanol steam reforming is studied under conditions of a microchannel reactor. It is shown that the highest activity is exhibited by Cd-containing catalysts, which are also characterized by the lowest carbon monoxide selectivity. The catalytic and physicochemical properties of the studied catalysts are compared. A correlation between the catalyst activity and the ability of Ti4+ cations in a TiO2 support to undergo partial hydrogen reduction to Ti3+ is shown. It is speculated that the reducibility of titanium cations depends on the semiconductor properties of the oxides in the catalyst.