The Steam Reforming of Methanol: Mechanism and Kinetics Compared to the Methanol Synthesis Process

TLDR: In this paper, the authors proposed catalytically steam-reform it to a hydrogen-rich gas (reformate) which can be used by a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell to generate electrical power for an electric vehicle.

Abstract: Publisher Summary Natural gas is the primary feedstock for methanol synthesis. The ICI low pressure process has become the dominant method of methanol manufacture although a range of converter designs have been developed in the last decade. In the past several years, a number of major North American car manufacturers have begun producing vehicles that use methanol or blends of methanol and gasoline as an internal combustion engine fuel. A much more efficient and environmentally benign means of utilizing methanol for transportation applications is to catalytically steam-reform it to a hydrogen-rich gas (“reformate”) which can be used by a proton exchange membrane (PEM) fuel cell to generate electrical power for an electric vehicle. Compared to an IC engine, fuel cells could increase energy efficiency significantly, reduce regulated emissions by 90% and reduce CO2 emissions by more than 40%. From the perspective of the fuel cell powered automobile designer, therefore, methanol synthesis can be viewed as a method of storing hydrogen in a convenient liquid form.