from first principles PP-I-1

PP-III-70Results and discussion - The obtained high purity carbon nanotubes have an averagethickness of ca. 60 nm and a length of 450 microns, as indicated by XPS and a scanningelectron microscope (SEM) figures which are shown below.The phase composition studies of copper and palladium catalysts after calcination processconfimed the occurece of followng phases for approciate catalytic systems : C, CuO and PdO.The XRD patterns recorded for analogical catalysts after reduction and reaction showed thereflexes stem from metallic Cu and Pd formed during reduction of CuO and PdO phases forappropriate systems.SEM image of multi-walled carbonnanotubes collected from the reactorXPS spectrum of multi-walledcarbon nanotubes collectedfrom the reactorReduction studies of prepared catalytic systems confirmed the occurrence of oxide phasesobserved on diffractograms for copper and palladium catalysts. The activity tests in methanoldecomposition showed that total conversion of methanol was obtained at 260°C for allsystems, while in the case of SRM the same yield for all systems was obtained until 320°C. Itis worth to note that 50% conversion of methanol was achieved for decomposition and SRMreactions at 220 °C and 280 °C, respectively. The increasing of metal content in both systemscaused the activity improvement.ConclusionsMulti-walled carbon nanotubes are useful material as a support for monometallic copper andpalladium supported catalysts. Cu/CNT and Pd/CNT catalysts are promising systems forhydrogen production in methanol steam reforming reaction. Methanol conversion, selectivityto hydrogen and yield of hydrogen production depends on composition of reaction mixture.Acknowledgements The financial support of this work by the Foundation of Polish Sciencesupports (START Programme Stipends for young researchers) is gratefully acknowledged.References[1] I.P. Jain, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 34(2009) 7368-7378.[2] N. Iwasa, M. Yoshikawa, W. Nomura, M. Arai, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 292 (2005) 215-222.[3] P.P.C. Udani, P.V.D.S. Gunawardana, H.C. Lee, D.H. Kim, Int. J. Hydrogen Energy 34 (2009)7648 - 7655.225