Hydrogen production from dimethyl ether (DME)

Dimethyl ether (DME) is expected as one of clean fuels, and DME is one of substitutes of diesel fuels and LPG. Infrastructures of LPG will be able to use for DME. Therefore, we have been studying on DME steam reforming for hydrogen production. Copper alumina catalysts prepared by a sol-gel method produced large quantities of H2 and CO2 with DME steam reforming at 300 °C. Other metal alumina catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method produced H2 and CO2, but also produced large quantities of CO. Our studies showed that copper is the best metal for the production of H2 while producing less CO. γ-alumina for DME hydrolysis into methanol, and copper for methanol steam reforming into H2 and CO2 co-exist on the surfaces of catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method, and the catalysts produce more amount of H2 from DME than impregnation catalysts, mixed catalysts, and so on. We have developed a great potential for H2 supply from DME.