A study on the dimethyl ether steam reforming over hybrid catalysts of copper based mixed oxides and solid acids

Abstract

The steam reforming of dimethyl ether to hydrogen rich gas was investigated over hybrid catalysts of copper based mixed oxides and solid acids (γ-Al2O3, Al-SBA-15). The effects of acidity and reaction temperature on the catalytic activity was investigated under atmospheric pressure, space velocity of 24000ml/gcathr and molar ratio nH2O/nDME=4. Among the hybrid catalysts tested hybrid catalyst of CuO/Ga2O3 mixed with γ-Al2O3 showed better dimethyl ether conversion and hydrogen yield. The hybrid catalysts are characterized by X-ray diffraction, nitrogen adsorption/desorption, ammonia temperature programmed desorption and N2O decomposition method.