Author(s)

Qi Zhang^1*, Yameng Chu¹, Xiaoqian Deng¹, Li Zhang², Hualong Chu²

¹Department of Chemical Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.
²State-Key Laboratory of Chemical Engineering, Department of Mechanical and Power Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, China.

A mesh-type structured anodic alumina supported Cu/Ni bi-functional catalyst was developed for steam reforming of dimethyl ether (SRD). It was found that the Cu/Ni/γ-Al₂O₃/Al catalyst had remarkable catalytic activity and stability, but a high CO selectivity. Therefore, a multi-functional catalyst was proposed by metals (Fe, Zn, or La) addition to inhibit CO formation during the SRD process. The results show that promoter Fe can improve the Cu dispersion and decrease the reduction temperature of catalyst, and CO selectivity was minimized from 27% to around 3%. However, the addition of Zn and La only can decrease the CO selectivity to 12%. Furthermore, there was an excellent synergetic effect between Cu/Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ and Fe over the Cu/Ni/Fe/γ-Al₂O₃/Al catalyst by evaluating catalytic performance of catalysts with different packing structures. And the synergetic mechanism of the active components (γ-Al₂O₃, Cu or Cu₂O, and Fe₃O₄) for SRD and CO in suit removal was proposed. Finally, a 400-h durability test was carried out and the results show that the Cu/Ni/Fe/γ-Al₂O₃/Al catalyst had an excellent stability with a 100% DME conversion and low CO selectivity.

Anodic Alumina, Dimethyl Ether, Hydrogen, Fe Promoter, CO Removal

Zhang, Q. , Chu, Y. , Deng, X. , Zhang, L. and Chu, H. (2018) Improvement of a Mesh-Type Cu/Ni/γ-Al2O3/Al Catalyst for Steam Reforming of Dimethyl Ether by Metal (Fe, Zn or La) Addition for CO in Situ Removal. Modern Research in Catalysis, 7, 1-16. doi: 10.4236/mrc.2018.71001.