Hydrogen-Rich Gas Production by Steam Reforming and Oxidative Steam Reforming of Methanol over La_0.6Sr_0.4CoO_3-: Effects of Preparation, Operation Conditions, and Redox Cycles

La0.6Sr0.4CoO3-& delta; (LSC)perovskite, as a potential catalyst precursor for hydrogen (H-2)-rich production by steam reforming of methanol (SRM) andoxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM), was investigated. Forthis purpose, LSC was synthesized by the citrate sol-gel methodand characterized by complementary analytical techniques. The catalyticactivity was studied for the as-prepared and prereduced LSC and comparedwith the undoped LaCoO3-& delta; (LCO) at severalfeed gas compositions. Furthermore, the degradation and regenerationof LSC under repeated redox cycles were studied. The results evidencedthat the increase in the water/methanol ratio under SRM, and the O-2 addition under OSRM, increased the CO2 formationand decreased both the H-2 selectivity and catalyst deactivationcaused by carbon deposition. Methanol conversion of the prereducedLSC was significantly enhanced at a lower temperature than that ofas-prepared LSC and undoped LCO. This was attributed to the performanceof metallic cobalt nanoparticles highly dispersed under reducing atmospheres.The reoxidation program in repetitive redox cycles played a crucialrole in the regeneration of catalysts, which could be regeneratedto the initial perovskite structure under a specific thermal treatment,minimizing the degradation of the catalytic activity and surface.