ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) composite prepared by a glycine nitrate process method and applied for hydrogen production by steam reforming of methanol

To address climate change, the energy crisis, and global warming, hydrogen (H(2)) can be used as a potential energy carrier because it is clean, non-toxic and efficient. Today, the mainstream industrial method of H(2) generation is steam reforming of methanol (SRM). In this process, a zinc-based commercial catalyst is usually used. In this work, a ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) catalyst was successfully synthesised by the glycine nitrate process (GNP) and developed for use in H(2) production by SRM. The specific surface area, porous structure and reaction sites of the zinc-based catalyst were effectively increased by the preparation method. The as-combusted ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) composite catalyst had a highly porous structure due to the gas released during the GNP reaction process. Moreover, according to the ZnO distribution and different G/N ratios, the specific surface area (S(BET)) of the as-combusted ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) catalyst varied from 29 m(2) g(−1) to 46 m(2) g(−1). The ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) composite catalyst (G/N 1.7) exhibited the highest hydrogen production, 4814 ml STP min(−1) g-cat(−1), at a reaction temperature of 450 °C without activation treatment. After activation, the ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) composite catalyst achieved hydrogen production of 6299 ml STP min(−1) g-cat(−1) at a reaction temperature of 500 °C. The hydrogen production performance of the ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) composite powder was improved by the uniform addition of ZnO to ZnCr(2)O(4). Based on the performance, this ZnO–ZnCr(2)O(4) composite catalyst has great potential to have industrial and economic impact due to its high efficiency in hydrogen production.