Interplay of Support Chemistry and Reaction Conditions on Copper Catalyzed Methanol Steam Reforming

[Image: see text] A series of Cu catalysts supported on SiO(2), Al(2)O(3)–SiO(2), TiO(2) rutile, and Cu/TiO(2) anatase metal oxides has been studied for methanol reforming in the vapor phase. The highest activity was obtained on Cu/SiO(2) catalysts (5493 μmol H(2) min(–1)·g(cat)(–1)) followed by Cu/TiO(2) rutile, Cu/Al(2)O(3)–SiO(2), and anatase. XRD and HRTEM characterization after reaction revealed that on Cu/SiO(2) significant sintering occurred during reaction. In contrast, the particle size growth on Cu/TiO(2) rutile and anatase was less pronounced, which could be associated with the interaction between Cu clusters and TiO(2). Characterization by TGA showed that on Cu/Al(2)O(3)–SiO(2) the main cause of deactivation was coke deposition.