Preferential oxidation of CO over CuO/CeO2 and Pt-Co/Al2O3 catalysts in micro-channel reactors

Micro-channel plates with dimension of 1 mm × 0.3 mm × 48 mm were prepared by chemical etching of stainless steel plates followed by wash coating of CeO₂ and Al₂O₃ on the channels. After coating the support on the plate, Pt, Co, and Cu were added to the plate by incipient wetness method. Reaction experiments of a single reactor showed that the micro-channel reactor coated with CuO/CeO₂ catalyst was highly selective for CO oxidation while the one coated with Pt-Co/Al₂O₃ catalyst was highly active for CO oxidation. The 7-layered reactors coated with two different catalysts were prepared by laser welding and the performances of each reactor were tested in large scale of PROX conditions. The multi-layered reactor coated with Pt-Co/Al₂O₃ catalyst was highly active for PROX and the outlet concentration of CO gradually increased with the O₂/CO ratio due to the oxidation of H₂ which maintained the reactor temperature. The multi-layered reactor coated with CuO/CeO₂ showed lower catalytic activity than that coated with Pt catalyst, but its selectivity was not changed with the increase of O₂/CO ratios due to the high selectivity. In order to combine advantages (high activity and high selectivity) of the two individual catalysts (Pt-Co/Al₂O₃, CuO/CeO₂), a serial reactor was prepared by connecting the two multi-layered micro-channel reactors with different catalysts. The prepared serial reactor exhibited excellent performance for PROX.     

Influence of chlorine ions in Pt/A12O3 catalysts for methane total oxidation

Residual chlorine ions on a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst surface prepared from chlorine-containing precursors appear to inhibit the total oxidation of methane. At 450°C, as chlorine is eliminated with time on stream, the reaction rate increases despite the sintering of the platinum particles. The steady state reaction rate which is reached after 60 h is identical to that obtained with a catalyst prepared from a precursor containing no chlorine. Whether chlorine is present or not in the initial state of the catalyst does not appear to have an influence on the evolution of the platinum particle size.     

Oxidation behaviour and catalytic properties of Pd/Al2O3 catalysts in the total oxidation of methane

A series of Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts with a wide range of mean Pd particle sizes (ca. 2–30 nm in diameter) was prepared by using various precursors (H₂PdCl₄, Pd(NO₃)₂ and Pd(AcAc)₂) and pre-treatments. The mean particle size of reduced samples was determined by H₂ chemisorption. The catalytic activity in methane oxidation under lean burn conditions was measured. The oxidation of reduced samples was studied at 300 °C. The extent of oxidation was found to decrease with increasing mean particle size. While small particles (<5 nm) oxidised very rapidly, the oxidation of large particles (ca. >15 nm) proceeded via a two-step process, being first fast and then slow. The decomposition of oxide species was studied by temperature-programmed experiments under vacuum. Two distinct oxidised species with different stability were evidenced depending on the particle size. Oxidised species in larger particles were found of lower stability than in smaller ones. A correlation between the existence of distinct types of oxide species and catalytic properties in methane oxidation was discussed.     

Characterization and catalytic activity of Pd/V2O5/Al2O3 catalysts on benzene total oxidation

The role of vanadium oxide and palladium on the benzene oxidation reaction over Pd/V₂O₅/Al₂O₃ catalysts was investigated. The Pd/V₂O₅/Al₂O₃ catalysts were more active than V₂O₅/Al₂O₃ and Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts. The increase of vanadium oxide content decreased the Pd dispersion and increased the benzene conversion. A strong Pd particle size effect on benzene oxidation reaction was observed. Although the catalysts containing high amount of V⁴⁺ species were more active, the Pd particle size effect was responsible for the higher activity.     

Influence of the co-feeding of CO, H2, CO2 or H2O in the partial oxidation of methane over Ni and Rh supported catalysts

The influence of the addition of 5 vol.% of carbon monoxide, hydrogen, carbon dioxide or water to the feed of partial oxidation of methane was investigated over Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ and Rh/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts. In addition to catalytic tests, thermodynamic calculations were performed to predict the effect of these gas co-feeds. Compared to the thermodynamic trends, differences in the influence of the co-feeding on catalytic performances were observed between both catalysts. Co-feeding of CO, H₂, CO₂ or H₂O can modify the oxidation state and dispersion of the metal component of the catalysts during reaction, and as a consequence, their performances. Changes in catalysts can be due to dynamic processes occurring during reaction. It is suggested to take these processes into account in a more complex kinetic equation for the reactions involved.     

CO oxidation catalysts based on copper and manganese or cobalt oxides supported on MgF2 and Al2O3

The catalytic activity of a mixed phase of copper–cobalt and copper–manganese oxides supported on magnesium fluorine or alumina has been studied in low temperature CO oxidation at 30 °C. During calcination, the oxides studied partially react to form different type spinels depending on the calcination temperature. These spinels have different effect on the catalytic activity. In low temperature CO oxidation the copper–manganese catalysts are more active than the copper–cobalt ones.     

ZrO2/SiO2- and La2O3/Al2O3-supported platinum catalysts for CH4/CO2 reforming

Surface-phase ZrO₂ on SiO₂ (SZrOs) and surface-phase La₂O₃ on Al₂O₃ (SLaOs) were prepared with various loadings of ZrO₂ and La₂O₃, characterized and used as supports for preparing Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts. CH₄/CO₂ reforming over the Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts was examined and compared with Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pt/SiO₂ catalysts. CO₂ or CH₄ pulse reaction/adsorption analysis was employed to elucidate the effects of these surface-phase oxides.

The zirconia can be homogeneously dispersed on SiO₂ to form a stable surface-phase oxide. The lanthana cannot be spread well on Al₂O₃, but it forms a stable amorphous oxide with Al₂O₃. The Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts showed higher steady activity than did Pt/SiO₂ and Pt/Al₂O₃ by a factor of three to four. The Pt/SZrOs and Pt/SLaOs catalysts were also much more stable than the Pt/SiO₂ and Pt/Al₂O₃ catalysts for long stream time and for reforming temperatures above 700 °C. These findings were attributed to the activation of CO₂ adsorbed on the basic sites of SZrOs and SLaOs.     

Hydrogenation of naphthalene on NiMo- Ni- and Ru/Al2O3 catalysts: Langmuir–Hinshelwood kinetic modelling

The importance of the hydrodearomatisation (HDA) is increasing together with tightening legislation of fuel quality and exhaust emissions. The present study focuses on hydrogenation (HYD) kinetics of the model aromatic compound naphthalene, found in typical diesel fraction, in n-hexadecane over a NiMo (nickel molybdenum), Ni (nickel) and Ru (ruthenium) supported on trilobe alumina (Al₂O₃) catalysts. Kinetic reaction expressions based on the mechanistic Langmuir–Hinshelwood (L–H) model were derived and tested by regressing the experimental data that translated the effect of both naphthalene and hydrogen concentration at a constant temperature (523.15 and 573.15 K over the NiMo catalyst and at 373.15 K over the Ni and Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts) on the initial reaction rate. The L–H equation, giving an adequate fit to the experimental data with physically meaningful parameters, suggested a competitive adsorption between hydrogen and naphthalene over the presulphided NiMo catalyst and a non-competitive adsorption between these two reactants over the prereduced Ni and Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts. In addition, the adsorption constant values indicated that the prereduced Ru catalyst was a much more active catalyst towards naphthalene HYD than the prereduced Ni/Al₂O₃ or the presulphided NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Carbon black oxidation in the presence of Al2O3, CeO2, and Mn oxide catalysts: An EPR study

Carbon black oxidation in the presence of CeO₂, Al₂O₃ and manganese oxide catalysts has been studied in tight contact conditions. In the presence of manganese based catalysts, the temperature gain is about 275 °C compared to the non-catalysed carbon black oxidation. The contribution of the manganese species to enhance the reactivity of carbon black oxidation has been evaluated by EPR technique. For Mn/Ce + CB mixtures the Mn²⁺ content considerably increases consequently to tight milled treatment indicating the reduction of some manganese species with higher oxidation states into Mn²⁺ ions. This phenomenon can be considered as the first step in the carbon black oxidation mechanism in the presence of Mn/Ce catalysts.     

Physicochemical surface and catalytic properties of CuO–ZnO/Al2O3 system

A series of CuO–ZnO/Al₂O₃ solids were prepared by wet impregnation using Al(OH)₃ solid and zinc and copper nitrate solutions. The amounts of copper and zinc oxides were varied between 10.3 and 16.0 wt% CuO and between 0.83 and 7.71 wt% ZnO. The prepared solids were subjected to thermal treatment at 400–1000°C. The solid–solid interactions between the different constituents of the prepared solids were studied using XRD analysis of different calcined solids. The surface characteristics of various calcined adsorbents were investigated using nitrogen adsorption at −196°C and their catalytic activities were determined using CO-oxidation by O₂ at temperatures ranged between 125°C and 200°C.

The results showed that CuO interacts with Al₂O₃ to produce copper aluminate at ≥600°C and the completion of this reaction requires heating at 1000°C. ZnO hinders the formation of CuAl₂O₄ at 600°C while stimulates its production at 800°C. The treatment of CuO/Al₂O₃ solids with different amounts of ZnO increases their specific surface area and total pore volume and hinders their sintering (the activation energy of sintering increases from 30 to 58 kJ mol⁻¹ in presence of 7.71 wt% ZnO). This treatment resulted in a progressive decrease in the catalytic activities of the investigated solids but increased their catalytic durability. Zinc and copper oxides present did not modify the mechanism of the catalyzed reaction but changed the concentration of catalytically active constituents (surface CuO crystallites) without changing their energetic nature.     

Effects of ZrO2/Al2O3 properties on the catalytic activity of Pd catalysts for methane combustion and CO oxidation

Zirconia supported on alumina was prepared and characterized by BET surface area, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS), temperature programmed desorption (TPD), and pulse reaction. 0.2% Pd/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation of supports with aqueous solution of Pd(NO₃)₂. The effects of support properties on catalytic activity for methane combustion and CO oxidation were investigated. The results show that ZrO₂ is highly dispersed on the surface of Al₂O₃ up to 10 wt.% ZrO₂, beyond this value tetragonal ZrO₂ is formed. The presence of a small amount of ZrO₂ can increase the surface area, pore volume and acidity of support. CO–TPD results show that the increase of CO adsorption capacity and the activation of CO bond after the presence of ZrO₂ lead to the increase of catalytic activity of Pd catalyst for CO oxidation. CO pulse reaction results indicate that the lattice oxygen of support can be activated at lower temperature following the presence of ZrO₂, but it does not accelerate the activity of 0.2% Pd/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ for methane combustion. 0.2% Pd/ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ dried at 120 °C shows highest activity for CH₄ combustion, and the activity can be further enhanced following the repeat run. The increase of treatment temperature and pre-reduction can decrease the activity of catalyst for CH₄ combustion.     

Effect of Rh loading on the performance of Rh/Al2O3 for methane partial oxidation to synthesis gas

Catalytic performance for partial oxidation of methane (POM) to synthesis gas was studied over the Rh/Al₂O₃ catalysts with Rh loadings between 0.1 and 3 wt%. It was found that the ignition temperature of POM reaction increased with the decreasing of the Rh loadings in the catalysts. For the POM reaction over the catalysts with high (≥1 wt%) Rh loadings, steady-state reactivity was observed. For the reaction over the catalysts with low (≤0.25 wt%) Rh loadings, however, oscillations in CH₄ and reaction products (CO, H₂, and CO₂) were observed. Comparative studies using H₂-TPR, O₂-TPD and high temperature in situ Raman spectroscopy techniques were carried out in order to elucidate the relation between the redox property of the Rh species in the Rh/Al₂O₃ with different Rh loadings and the performance of the catalysts for the reaction. Three kinds of oxidized rhodium species, i.e. the rhodium oxide species insignificantly affected by the support (RhO_x), that intimately interacting with the Al₂O₃ surface (RhⁱO_x) and the Rh(AlO₂)_y species formed by diffusion of rhodium oxides in to sublayers of Al₂O₃ [C.P. Hwang, C.T. Yeh, Q.M. Zhu, Catal. Today, 51 (1999) 93.], were identified by H₂-TPR and O₂-TPD experiments. Among them, the first two species can be easily reduced by H₂ at temperature below 350 °C, while the last one can only be reduced by H₂ at temperature above 500 °C. The ignition temperatures of POM reaction over the catalysts are closely related to the temperature at which most of the RhO_x and RhⁱO_x species can be reduced by CH₄ in the reaction mixture. Compared to the Rh/Al₂O₃ with high Rh loadings, the catalysts with low Rh loadings contain more RhⁱO_x species which possess stronger RhO bond strength and are more difficult to be reduced than RhO_x by the reaction mixture. Higher temperature is therefore required to ignite the POM reaction over the catalysts with lower Rh loadings. The oscillation during the POM reaction over the Rh/Al₂O₃ with low Rh loadings can be related to the behaviour of Rh(AlO₂)_y species in the catalyst switching cyclically from the oxidized state to the reduced state during the reaction.     

NO reduction by CH4 in the presence of O2 over La2O3 supported on Al2O3

Dispersing La₂O₃ on δ- or γ-Al₂O₃ significantly enhances the rate of NO reduction by CH₄ in 1% O₂, compared to unsupported La₂O₃. Typically, no bend-over in activity occurs between 500° and 700°C, and the rate at 700°C is 60% higher than that with a Co/ZSM-5 catalyst. The final activity was dependent upon the La₂O₃ precursor used, the pretreatment, and the La₂O₃ loading. The most active family of catalysts consisted of La₂O₃ on γ-Al₂O₃ prepared with lanthanum acetate and calcined at 750°C for 10 h. A maximum in rate (mol/s/g) and specific activity (mol/s/m²) occurred between the addition of one and two theoretical monolayers of La₂O₃ on the γ-Al₂O₃ surface. The best catalyst, 40% La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃, had a turnover frequency at 700°C of 0.05 s⁻¹, based on NO chemisorption at 25°C, which was 15 times higher than that for Co/ZSM-5. These La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts exhibited stable activity under high conversion conditions as well as high CH₄ selectivity (CH₄ + NO vs. CH₄ + O₂). The addition of Sr to a 20% La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ sample increased activity, and a maximum rate enhancement of 45% was obtained at a SrO loading of 5%. In contrast, addition of SO⁼₄ to the latter Sr-promoted La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst decreased activity although sulfate increased the activity of Sr-promoted La₂O₃. Dispersing La₂O₃ on SiO₂ produced catalysts with extremely low specific activities, and rates were even lower than with pure La₂O₃. This is presumably due to water sensitivity and silicate formation. The La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts are anticipated to show sufficient hydrothermal stability to allow their use in certain high-temperature applications.     

Effect of Al2O3 on mechanical properties of Ti3SiC2/Al2O3 composite

The effect of Al₂O₃ on mechanical properties of Ti₃SiC₂/Al₂O₃ composite fabricated by SPS was studied systematically. The results show that the hardness of the Ti₃SiC₂/Al₂O₃ composite can reach 10.28 GPa, 50% higher than that of pure Ti₃SiC₂. However, slight decrease in the other mechanical properties was observed with Al₂O₃ addition higher than 5–10 vol.%, which is believed to be due to the agglomeration of Al₂O₃ in the composite.     

Ni/Al_2O_3催化剂的CO_2-TPD表征

Ni/Al_2O_3催化剂是甲烷二氧化碳重整反应制取合成气研究最多、最具应用潜力的一种催化剂。通过对催化剂进行CO_2-TPD研究,考察还原态Ni/Al_2O_3催化剂的CO_2脱附特性。结果表明,浸渍法制备的Ni/Al_2O_3催化剂CO_2脱附曲线呈现双峰,分别在(60~65)℃和(350~380)℃出现高低温两个活性位;高温CO_2吸附量为3.0 cm~3·g~(-1),低温CO_2吸附量为24.0 cm~3·g~(-1)。催化剂的CO_2吸附量与其Ni含量无关。考察选用不同载体的CO_2脱附行为,发现以Al_2O_3为载体的催化剂CO_2吸附量是MgO和SiO_2为载体催化剂的2~4倍,以TiO_2为载体的催化剂几乎不吸附CO_2。     

The mechanism of SO2 effect on NO reduction with propene over In2O3/Al2O3 catalyst

An In₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows high activity for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with propene in the presence of oxygen. The presence of SO₂ in feed gas suppressed the catalytic activity dramatically at high temperatures; however it was enhanced in the low temperature range of 473–573 K. In TPD and FT-IR studies, the formation of sulfate species on the surface of the catalyst caused an inhibition of NO_X adsorption sites, and the absorbance ability of NO was suppressed by the presence of SO₂, and the amount of ad-NO₃⁻ species decreased obviously. This leads to a decrease of catalytic activity at higher temperatures. However, addition of SO₂ enhanced the formation of carboxylate and formate species, which can explain the promotional effect of SO₂ at low temperature, because active C₃H₆ (partially oxidized C₃H₆) is crucial at low temperature.     

Selective reduction of NO on Ag/Al2O3 catalysts prepared from boehmite needles

Ag/Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared from boehmite needles (ca. 10 nm×100 nm), which were formed by a hydrolysis of aluminium tri-isopropoxide (AIP), showed good performances for selective catalytic reduction of NO_x compared with the previously reported catalysts [N. Aoyama, K. Yoshida, A. Abe, T. Miyadera, Catal. Lett. 43 (1997) 249], especially when ethanol is employed as a reducing agent in the presence of water. Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) study revealed that the Ag species are attractively interacted with the alumina surface and the oxidized Ag species contribute positively for the improvement of the catalytic activity at the temperatures above 750 K. It is concluded that the boehmite needles as a precursor of alumina support are useful to create the catalytically active sites for NO_x reduction.     

Oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane and 1-butene on undoped and K-doped VOx/Al2O3 catalysts

The oxidative dehydrogenation (OXDH) of n-butane and 1-butene on undoped and K-doped alumina-supported vanadia catalysts has been studied. The low selectivity to OXDH products on alumina-supported vanadia catalysts is a consequence of the isomerization of olefins (low temperatures) and the formation of carbon oxides (high temperatures) on acid sites. The presence of potassium results in a decrease of the number of acid sites and a higher selectivity to OXDH products from both n-butane and 1-butene. Infrared spectroscopy data of 1-butene adsorbed on the catalysts suggest the presence of different adsorbed species: (i) O-containing species on the undoped catalyst, or (ii) adsorbed butadiene on K-doped catalyst. A reaction network including parallel and consecutive reactions is proposed.     

PtSn负载量对PtSn/Al2O3催化剂上丙烷脱氢性能的影响

由丙烷直接催化脱氢制取丙烯已经成为增产丙烯的重要手段之一。以水热法制备Al_2O_3载体,采用等体积浸渍法制备不同PtSn负载量的PtSn/Al_2O_3催化剂。通过XRD、N2-吸附、拉曼光谱和H2-TPR等对其进行表征,并考察不同PtSn负载量对催化剂催化丙烷脱氢性能的影响。结果表明,在制备的催化剂中,Pt1.5Sn3/Al_2O_3具有最高的催化丙烷脱氢活性和稳定性,丙烷初始转化率高达55.6%,丙烯选择性98.1%。反应330 min后,丙烷转化率仅降约10%,选择性保持不变。