a hydrogen production process with high hydrogen yield at a low temperature is described . first , an aqueous methanol solution with water / methanol molar ratio between about 0 . 75 and about 2 . 5 is pre - mixed with oxygen in an oxygen / methanol molar ratio not greater than about 0 . 5 . the mixture is then directed to pass through an activated supported gold catalyst undergoing an oxidative steam reforming of methanol to generate a hydrogen - rich gas with co content less than 1 % at a low reaction temperature . gold particles on active supported gold catalysts have been dispersed to a size of 6 nm or less . the oxidative steam reforming of methanol may generate more than 2 moles of hydrogen for each mole of methanol consumed .