Hydrogen production in the decomposition and steam reforming of methanol on Mo2C/carbon catalysts

Mo2C prepared by the reduction and reaction of MoO3 with carbon Norit and with multiwall carbon nanotube was found to be an effective catalyst for the decomposition of methanol to give H2 and CO. On 5% Mo2C/Norit catalyst, complete conversion of methanol was attained at temperatures as low as ∼623 K. An important feature of this catalyst is its high thermal stability; the percentages of H2 (∼65%) and CO (24–26%) were practically constant at 573–723 K. The selectivity of hydrogen at 573–723 K was >85%. Formaldehyde also was detected, in amounts decreasing with Mo2C loading and also with temperature. Other minor products were CH4 and CO2. On 5% Mo2C/Norit, the conversion of methanol and the production of H2 decreased by only a few percentage points even after 17 h at 723 K. Mo2C produced on multiwall carbon nanotube also proved active for the decomposition of methanol. Adding water to methanol somewhat decreased the CO content and increased the H2 content in the products.