Synthesis of HZSM‐5 from Montmorillonite for H₂ Production via Steam Reforming of Dimethyl Ether

Abstract A series of HZSM‐5 with different SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio was synthesized successfully using montmorillonite treated by submolten salt activation technique as a raw material. Meanwhile, HZSM‐5, employed as a solid acid catalyst, was blended with the commercial Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 catalyst to form a bifunctional catalyst for the steam reforming of dimethyl ether (SRD) process. The results showed that the acidity and structural characteristics of HZSM‐5 could be effectively regulated by adjusting the SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ratio, and then affecting the SRD performance of the corresponding bifunctional catalyst. Among them, the bifunctional catalyst comprising HZSM‐5 (SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 = 42) and Cu/ZnO/Al 2 O 3 presented the highest activity for the SRD performance, in which the dimethyl ether conversion and hydrogen yield could reach 94% and 85% at TOS of 12 h under the condition of reaction temperature of 300 °C, pressure of 0.1 MPa, space velocity of 5000 mL/(g·h), respectively.