Methanol Steam Reforming in a Reactor with a Palladium–Copper Membrane in the Presence of a Nickel–Copper Catalyst

A study of methanol steam reforming (MSR) in the presence of a Ni0.2–Cu0.8/Ce0.3Zr0.7O2-δ catalyst in conventional and membrane reactors has revealed that the hydrogen yield in a reactor with a Pd–Cu membrane is higher than that in a conventional flow reactor. It has been shown that the Pd–Cu alloy membrane exhibits high hydrogen permeability. Methanol steam reforming in the membrane reactor provides the production of high-purity hydrogen, because a stream of pure hydrogen free from any impurities is effluent from the permeate zone. Measurements of the hydrogen permeability of the Pd–Cu alloy foil membrane in the membrane reactor before and after catalysis have been conducted.