US 4,789,540 AGranted

Catalytic hydrogen generator for use with methanol

AssigneeJohnson Matthey Public Limited Company

InventorJohn W. Jenkins

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Abstract

A catalytic hydrogen generator which generates hydrogen by the partial oxidation of methanol by oxygen (usually supplied as air) which comprises a gas permeable catalyst system having an upstream zone (2) filled with a copper catalyst supported on a refractory support (3) (for example silica or silicate granules) and a downstream zone (4) filled with a mixture of a similar supported copper catalyst and a platinum or palladium catalyst supported on a similar refractory support (5b). A mixture of methanol and oxygen is fed to the upstream zone and initially permeates through to the downstream zone where spontaneous oxidation of the methanol is initiated raising the temperature of the system to a level at which partial oxidation of methanol in the presence of the copper catalyst in the upstream zone (2) commences and produces hydrogen.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A process for the catalytic generation of hydrogen from a mixture of methanol and oxygen which does not require the application of external heat using a gas permeable catalyst system comprising

(a) an upstream zone (2) comprising a catalyst consisting essentially of copper moieties supported on a refractory support (3) and
(b) a downstream zone (4) containing a catalyst comprising copper moieties supported on a refractory support (5a) and mixed with a catalyst comprising moieties of one or more metals chosen from platinum and palladium supported on a refractory support (5b)
wherein the mixture is fed into the upstream zone through which it permeates into the downstream zone where oxidation of methanol initiates spontaneously causing a rise in temperature to a temperature at which partial oxidation of methanol in the presence of a copper catalyst in the upstream zone can occur whereupon partial oxidation of methanol in the upstream zone commences and produces hydrogen.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 06/903,644Filed 4 Sep 1986
Priority: GB 85219533 Sep 1985
Granted: 6 Dec 1988
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

C01B 3/323
By reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds with gasifying agents, e.g. water, carbon dioxide or air: catalytic reaction of gaseous or…
C01B 3/3231
Catalytic reaction of gaseous or liquid organic compounds other than hydrocarbons with gasifying agents: of alcohols, e.g. methanol or ethanol
Y02P 20/52
Improvements relating to the production of bulk chemicals: using catalysts, e.g. selective catalysts
C01B
Non-metallic elements