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HYDROGEN PRODUCTION FROM METHANOL USINGSTRUCTURED CATALYSTSKawamura Y. 1,2 , Ogura N. 1,2 , Igarashi A. 1PP-III-261 Department of Applied Chemistry, Kogakuin University, Tokyo 192-0015, Japan,E-mail: igarashi@cc.kogakuin.ac.jp2 CASIO Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo 198-0022, JapanIntroduction. Microreactor systems based on a microchannel as a structuredcatalytic reactor have generated particular interest [1]. The microreactor allowsreactions that are difficult to realize using conventional fixed-bed reactors, and is alsosuitable for integration with the various additional components required for operationusing microfabrication technologies. Small polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs), apromising clean and high-efficiency power source for portable electrical devices,require a reformer to produce hydrogen by the steam reforming of alcohols,hydrocarbons, or other fossil fuels. Such reformers typically have complex structuresand have proven difficult to miniaturize. In the present study, a microreactor isproposed for use as a novel hydrogen producer for small PEFC systems.Hydrogen production using a microreactor. The reduction of heat loss in themicroreactor is the primary requirement for improving system efficiency, since heatrelease in microreactors is higher than in conventional reactors due to the increasedspecific surface area. The high-performance Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst prepared for thepresent methanol reformer under optimized conditions of the temperature and pH ofprecipitation and the addition of boehmite achieves hydrogen production at 20–25 °Clower temperature than a commercial copper catalyst. The catalytic activity was found todepend on the copper surface area, which is related to the amount of Cu dispersedwithin ZnO. Dispersion of Cu is promoted by precipitation at low temperature, whichresults in the formation of small crystallites of the precursor. Enlarged BET surface areaby the addition of boehmite derives high catalytic activity. Under optimized pH, it ispredicted that the excess of Cu species existing as amorphous-like malachite in theprecursor, in addition to aurichalcite, facilitates the dispersion of Cu [2]. The miniaturizedmethanol reformer developed to utilize this Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst consists of a catalystcoatedmicrochannel in a serpentine arrangement, with total length of 333 mm andcross-section of 0.6×0.4 mm 2 . The length of the microchannel was determined based onone-dimensional mass and heat balance analyses. The microreactor was fabricated487