High activity catalyst for reforming of methanol and process of preparing same

Claim 1

A process of preparing a catalyst for reforming a methanol to hydrogen and carbon monoxide, the process comprising the steps of: (a) depositing at least one metal oxide which is an oxide of a metal selected from the group consisting of Ce, La, Pr, Nd and Y on a carrier which comprises active alumina over at least substantially the entire surface thereof; (b) impregnating the carrier treated at step (a) with an aqueous solution comprising ammonium thiosulfate and at least one thermally decomposable compound of a catalytic metal of the platinum group; (c) after step (b), drying the carrier so as to reduce moisture content therein to a predetermined level; (d) baking the carrier impregnated with said solution in a steam atmosphere at a temperature between about 500° C. and about 600° C. to decompose said thermally decomposable compound adhering to the carrier to thereby deposit at least one catalytic metal of the platinum group on the carrier; and (e) subjecting the carrier treated at step (d) to a reduction treatment which comprises immersing the carrier in a solution of a reducing agent, such that said catalytic metal deposited on the carrier is rendered substantially completely reduced.