Development of Cu-based Spinel Catalyst for Steam Reforming of Dimethyl Ether for Hydrogen Production

This work focused on the Cu-based spinel type oxide catalysts for the steam reforming of dimethyl ether (DME SR) reactions. Among Cu-based spinel-oxides, CuFe_2O_4 spinel and γ-Al_2O_3 composite catalyst exhibited the highest activity for DME SR. Reduction behavior, crystal property, and Cu oxidation state of spinel catalysts were strongly affected by B metal elements. The heat treatment temperature range of 700-800℃ is most effective to enhance the catalytic performance due to the new phase of Cu-Fe-AlO_4 formation by solid-state reaction at the interface between CuFe_2O_4 and γ-Al_2O_3. No degradation could be observed for the catalyst subjected to the cooling-heating process in O_2 atmosphere which is assumed the daily start-up and shut-down (DSS) operation. The degraded catalyst after the DSS operation in steam could be recovered by the heat treatment in air at 375℃, because the active sites of γ-Al_2O_3 were regenerated and the coke deposits were removed