Active Impregnation Method for Copper Foam as Catalyst Support for Methanol Steam Reforming for Hydrogen Production

Abstract

In order to realize uniformly loading catalyst on copper foam, a new device was designed to drive catalyst precursor solution to flow into the inner pore structures of copper foam by changing driving pressure and flow rate. The three-dimensional models of copper foam loaded with catalyst using different impregnation methods were reconstructed by Micro-CT. The catalyst loading distribution was studied by Micro-CT and SEM. Moreover, methanol steam reforming reaction performance of microreactor with copper foam loaded with catalyst using different methods was compared and analyzed. The results showed that the best loading performance of copper foam was obtained when driving pressure and flow rate of catalyst precursor solution were 0.102 MPa and 0.3 L/min, respectively. Compared with traditional impregnation method, copper foam using active impregnation method exhibited more uniform distribution of catalyst and better reaction performance for hydrogen production. This work provides a feasible method to optimize catalyst loading process.

Advanced Strategies for Stabilizing Single-Atom Catalysts for Energy Storage and Conversion

“…For heterogeneous catalysts, one of the classic preparation methods is the impregnation method [97,223]. In a typical synthesis procedure, the carrier is impregnated in a solution containing an active component (metal salt).…”

Preparation of Pd/Al2O3/Nickel Microfoam Catalysts by Electrodeposition for Hydrogenation in a Micropacked Bed Reactor

“…Micropacked beds (MPBs) are miniaturized devices for the process intensification of heterogeneous catalytic reactions, such as hydrogenation, − oxidation, , and catalyst screening, , which have attracted extensive attention in recent years. − Compared with conventional reactors, MPBs have small dimensions, large surface-to-volume ratio, high mass and heat transfer performance, and excellent operating safety. , Generally, MPBs are packed with small catalyst particles (diameter <500 μm) to create microchannels and cavities. − However, the catalyst particles with small size lead to a high pressure drop in the reactors, which will increase the energy consumption and operating cost …”

“…The use of metal microfoam (MMF) can provide high mass transfer and low pressure drop, so it presents a new route to prepare monolithic catalysts with MMF in the MPBs. Whereas, capillary force rather than gravitational force becomes the dominant force at such a small pore size of MMF. − It is difficult for the slurry of catalyst coatings to flow into the inner pores of MMF, and the distribution of catalyst coatings is nonuniform with the traditional preparation method of sol–gel slurry impregnation . The uniformity of catalyst coatings is particularly important for the catalysts and the reactors.…”

In Situ Reduction of a CuO/ZnO/CeO2/ZrO2 Catalyst Washcoat Supported on Al2O3 Foam Ceramic by Glycerol for Methanol Steam Reforming in a Microreactor

“…3−5 As one of the most important components of a microreactor, a catalyst support is supposed to possess high adhesive strength and excellent thermostability. 6,7 On the basis of these requirements, metal foams, 8,9 silicon, 10 and foam/porous ceramics 11−13 have been successfully used as catalyst support. Meanwhile, methanol steam reforming (MSR) is highly favored by the microreactor technology because of the high H 2 yield, low CO concentration, and moderate reaction conditions.…”

“…In recent years, a hydrogen fuel cell has become the focus of the development of a green energy resource and is considered as one of the most promising technologies in this century. , However, continuous hydrogen supply is an urgent problem to be solved for a hydrogen fuel cell. Fortunately, the microreactor technology based on the reforming of organic fuels can be integrated with the fuel cell without a significant increase in the volume and weight, which makes it possible to supply hydrogen on-site. − As one of the most important components of a microreactor, a catalyst support is supposed to possess high adhesive strength and excellent thermostability. , On the basis of these requirements, metal foams, , silicon, and foam/porous ceramics − have been successfully used as catalyst support. Meanwhile, methanol steam reforming (MSR) is highly favored by the microreactor technology because of the high H 2 yield, low CO concentration, and moderate reaction conditions .…”