| abstract |
[Problem] To provide a metal-supporting catalyst for decomposing ammonia into hydrogen and nitrogen, said catalyst showing a high performance, having a low cost and being advantageous from the viewpoint of resources, and an efficient method for producing hydrogen using the catalyst.n[Solution] A hydrogen generation catalyst for catalytically decomposing ammonia gas to generate hydrogen, characterized in that the hydrogen generation catalyst comprises, as a support, a mayenite type compound having oxygen ions enclosed therein or a mayenite type compound having 10 15 cm -3 or more of conduction electrons or hydrogen anions enclosed therein, and metal grains for decomposing ammonia are supported on the surface of the support. Hydrogen is produced by continuously supplying 0.1-100 vol% of ammonia gas to a catalyst layer that comprises the aforesaid catalyst, and reacting the same at a reaction pressure of 0.01-1.0 MPa, at a reaction temperature of 300-800 o C and at a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 500/ml g -1 h -1 or higher. |