I. Definition and Function

Methanol decomposition is the chemical process of breaking down methanol into carbon monoxide and hydrogen. Methanol decomposition catalysts are substances that accelerate this decomposition reaction, effectively suppress side reactions, and reduce the reaction temperature required.

II. Types and Characteristics

There are various types of methanol decomposition catalysts, including metal catalysts, metal oxide catalysts, and composite catalysts. Below is a detailed introduction to each type:

1. Metal Catalysts

   • Nickel-Based Catalysts: Nickel is a commonly used methanol decomposition catalyst, known for its good catalytic activity and stability, making it suitable for methanol decomposition reactions at high temperatures. This catalyst is widely used in industry, with its reaction mechanism primarily involving the catalytic decomposition of methanol into carbon monoxide and hydrogen through active sites on the nickel surface.

   • Noble Metal Catalysts: Such as platinum, palladium, and rhodium, these catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity and resistance to poisoning but are limited in industrial-scale applications due to their high cost. However, some non-noble metals like nickel and cobalt also demonstrate good catalytic effects.

2. Metal Oxide Catalysts

   • Composed mainly of metal oxides such as zinc oxide and alumina, these catalysts possess high stability and catalytic activity. During methanol decomposition, they effectively reduce the activation energy of the reaction, thereby enhancing the efficiency of hydrogen generation.

3. Composite Catalysts

   • Composed of multiple metals or metal oxides, these catalysts improve catalytic performance through synergistic effects. They not only increase hydrogen yield but also, to some extent, enhance hydrogen purity.

III. Specific Examples

• TCJ-1 Methanol Decomposition for Hydrogen Production Catalyst: A novel catalyst with copper as the active component, composed of copper, zinc, and aluminum oxides. It exhibits high activity and good selectivity for the production of hydrogen and carbon dioxide through the steam reforming of formic acid.

• HF101 Methanol Decomposition for Hydrogen Production Catalyst: Suitable for the reaction of methanol steam reforming to produce H₂ + CO₂, this copper-zinc series catalyst uses CuO as the main component, with ZnO and Al₂O₃ as spacers. Due to the adoption of a zinc co-precipitation process technology and the addition of novel promoters, it has a large effective copper surface area, excellent activity, and stability, along with a large pore volume and suitable pore size distribution.

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