Stepwise production of CO-rich syngas and hydrogen via methane reforming by a WO3-redox catalyst

A two-step cyclic steam reforming of methane by a WO3/ZrO2 redox catalyst was performed to produce CO-rich syngas and hydrogen. The two-step cyclic processes could be repeated using a redox system of WO3 below 1273 K. The produced CO-rich syngas had the H-2/CO ratios of about two, which was suitable for methanol production. This endothermic syngas-production process will be used as a solar thermochemical process for converting concentrated solar radiation to chemical liquid fuel of methanol in the sun-belt regions. The solar syngas-production process using the WO3/ZrO2 catalyst was demonstrated in a laboratory scale under direct irradiation of the catalyst by a solar-simulated, high-flux visible light. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.