Liquid-phase Decomposition of Methanol for Energy Chemistry with Carbon-supported Metallic Catalysts

Abstract

Catalytic methanol decomposition proceeds at high conversions with a carbon-supported Pd-Ru catalyst or a Cu catalyst under boiling conditions in the liquid-film state. The best Pd:Ru bimetallic molar ratio was found to be 1:8, whereas cupric acetate was recommended as the Cu catalyst precursor. An automobile technology with new on-board upgrading of methanol fuel is proposed here by utilizing waste heats exhausted from the Otto-type internal combustion engine with this endothermic reaction.