In this study, asymmetric Al2O3 hollow fibres have been used as a support for either a Cian/GaOx based catalyst or a Pd/Ag membrane in the development of a catalytic hollow fibre micro-reactor (CHFMR) and hollow Fibre membrane reactor (HFMR), respectively. The CuiZn/GaOx based catalyst was successfully deposited inside the ringer-like region of the Al2O3 hollow Fibres by the co-precipitation technique. The impregnated Fibres were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), high resolution optical microscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-disperse X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). The Pd/Ag membrane was deposited OR the outer surface of the Al2O3 hollow Fibres by the electroless plating technique and was characterized by SEM, and Ar and H-2 permeability. The performance of both the CHFMR and HFMR was compared with that of a conventional fixed-bed reactor (FBR) during the methanol steam reforming (MSR) reaction. The CHFMR offers important advantages over conventional FBRs such as high catalytic activity along with a maximum selectivity. It has been observed that at 300 degrees C the CH3OH conversion in the CHFMR was 6 Limes larger and the CO produced 4 Limes smaller than that obtained in a conventional FBR. Likewise, the results obtained using the HFMR during the MSR showed that at 250 degrees C the CH3OH conversion was 75%, which is 34% higher than that obtained in the conventional FBR. Moreover, at 250 degrees C and using a sweep gas of 100 mlfrnin in the HFMR, the H-2 recovery index of the Pd/ Ag membranes was 50%, which showed the feasibility of a large production of high purity H-2 (5.5 mlf mg h). The Pd/Ag membrane was stable under the reaction conditions, showing high H-2 permeance (1.2 x 10(-3) mol m(-2) s at 300 degrees C) and permeability (7.6 x 10(-9) mol m(-1) s(-1) Pa-1/2 at 300 degrees C) and infinite selectivity to H-2. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved,