Synthesis of HZSM-5 from Montmorillonite for H2 Production via Steam Reforming of Dimethyl Ether

Abstract

A series of HZSM-5 with different SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio was synthesized successfully using montmorillonite treated by submolten salt activation technique as a raw material. Meanwhile, HZSM-5, employed as a solid acid catalyst, was blended with the commercial Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst to form a bifunctional catalyst for the steam reforming of dimethyl ether (SRD) process. The results showed that the acidity and structural characteristics of HZSM-5 could be effectively regulated by adjusting the SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio, and then affecting the SRD performance of the corresponding bifunctional catalyst. Among them, the bifunctional catalyst comprising HZSM-5 (SiO₂/Al₂O₃ = 42) and Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ presented the highest activity for the SRD performance, in which the dimethyl ether conversion and hydrogen yield could reach 94% and 85% at TOS of 12 h under the condition of reaction temperature of 300 °C, pressure of 0.1 MPa, space velocity of 5000 mL/(g·h), respectively.