Mechanistic peculiarities of the N2O reduction by CH4 over Fe-silicalite

Transient isotopic studies in the temporal analysis of products (TAP) reactor evidenced the importance of the lifetime of oxygen species generated upon N₂O decomposition on extraframework iron sites of Fe-silicalite for methane oxidation at 723 K. Fe-silicalite effectively activates CH₄ when N₂O and CH₄ are pulsed together in the reactor. However, these oxygen species gradually become inactive for methane oxidation as the time delay between the N₂O and CH₄ pulses is increased from 0 to 2 s.     

Partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over Co/Ca/Al2O3 catalysts

A series of calcium-modified alumina-supported cobalt catalysts were prepared with a two-step impregnation method, and the effect of calcium on the catalytic performances of the catalysts for the partial oxidation of methane to syngas (CO and H₂) was investigated at 750 °C. Also, the catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, TPR and (in situ) Raman. At 6 wt.% of cobalt loading, the unmodified alumina-supported cobalt catalyst showed a very low activity and a rapid deactivation, while the calcium-modified catalyst presented a good performance for this process with the CH₄ conversion of 88%, CO selectivity of 94% and undetectable carbon deposition during a long-time running. Characterization results showed that the calcium modification can effectively increase the dispersion and reducibility of Co₃O₄, decrease the Co metal particle size, and suppress the reoxidation of cobalt as well as the phase transformation to form CoAl₂O₄ spinel phases under the reaction conditions. These could be related to the excellent catalytic performances of Co/Ca/Al₂O₃ catalysts.     

La2NiO4 tubular membrane reactor for conversion of methane to syngas

La₂NiO₄ tubular membranes of relative density over 92% were used to separate oxygen from air and facilitate the partial oxidation of methane to H₂ and CO at 900 °C. When methane was fed into a tube of inner surface area 5.11 cm² at a rate of 10.5 ml/min, methane throughput conversion was 89%, CO selectivity 96%, H₂/CO ratio 1.5, and the equivalent oxygen flux was 6.8 ml/min. The surface of the La₂NiO₄ membrane exposed to CH₄ decomposed into La₂O₃ and Ni, while the surface in contact with air remained almost unchanged. It is suggested that the conversion of methane in the membrane reactor involves the reforming of methane by the H₂O and CO₂ catalyzed by nickel.     

Autothermal reforming of methane over Ni catalysts supported over CaO–CeO2–ZrO2 solid solution

Ni catalysts supported on various solid solutions of ZrO₂ with alkaline earth oxide and/or rare earth oxide were synthesized. The catalytic activities were compared for partial oxidation of methane and autothermal reforming of methane. For partial oxidation of methane, the Ni catalyst supported on a CaO–ZrO₂ solid solution showed a high activity. Incorporation of CaO in the ZrO₂ matrix was effective for increasing the reduction rate of the NiO particles and for decreasing the coke formation. On the other hand, the Ni particles supported on the CaO–CeO₂–ZrO₂ solid solution had a strong interaction with the support, and the Ni particles showed high activity and stability for autothermal reforming of methane.     

Conversion of N2O to N2 on TiO2(1 1 0)

In this study, we examine the interaction of N₂O with TiO₂(1 1 0) in an effort to better understand the conversion of NO_x species to N₂ over TiO₂-based catalysts. The TiO₂(1 1 0) surface was chosen as a model system because this material is commonly used as a support and because oxygen vacancies on this surface are perhaps the best available models for the role of electronic defects in catalysis. Annealing TiO₂(1 1 0) in vacuum at high temperature (above about 800 K) generates oxygen vacancy sites that are associated with reduced surface cations (Ti³⁺ sites) and that are easily quantified using temperature programmed desorption (TPD) of water. Using TPD, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), we found that the majority of N₂O molecules adsorbed at 90 K on TiO₂(1 1 0) are weakly held and desorb from the surface at 130 K. However, a small fraction of the N₂O molecules exposed to TiO₂(1 1 0) at 90 K decompose to N₂ via one of two channels, both of which are vacancy-mediated. One channel occurs at 90 K, and results in N₂ ejection from the surface and vacancy oxidation. We propose that this channel involves N₂O molecules bound at vacancies with the O-end of the molecule in the vacancy. The second channel results from an adsorbed state of N₂O that decomposes at 170 K to liberate N₂ in the gas phase and deposit oxygen adatoms at non-defect Ti⁴⁺ sites. The presence of these O adatoms is clearly evident in subsequent water TPD measurements. We propose that this channel involves N₂O molecules that are bound at vacancies with the N-end of the molecule in the vacancy, which permits the O-end of the molecule to interact with an adjacent Ti⁴⁺ site. The partitioning between these two channels is roughly 1:1 for adsorption at 90 K, but neither is observed to occur for moderate N₂O exposures at temperatures above 200 K. EELS data indicate that vacancies readily transfer charge to N₂O at 90 K, and this charge transfer facilitates N₂O decomposition. Based on these results, it appears that the decomposition of N₂O to N₂ requires trapping of the molecule at vacancies and that the lifetime of the N₂O–vacancy interaction may be key to the conversion of N₂O to N₂.     

Partial oxidation of methane over nickel-added strontium phosphate

It was found that nickel-added strontium phosphate exhibited high activity and selectivity in partial oxidation of methane. The optimum nickel content could be determined. Over the optimum catalyst, methane conversions and H₂ and CO concentrations in excess of those predicted by the thermodynamic equilibrium were observed. It is believed that the catalytically active species is metallic nickel. This metallic nickel is considered to come from nickel-substituted strontium phosphate under reducing environment, giving highly dispersed nickel metal particles.     

Partial oxidation of methane to syngas over Ni/MgO, Ni/CaO and Ni/CeO2

Partial oxidation of methane to syngas at atmospheric pressure and 750°C was examined over Ni/MgO, Ni/CaO and Ni/CeO₂ catalysts with nickel loading of 13 wt%. All catalysts had similar high conversion of methane and high selectivity to syngas, which nearly approached the values predicted by thermodynamic equilibrium. However, only Ni/MgO showed high resistance to carbon deposition under thermodynamically severe conditions (CH₄/O₂ = 2.5, a higher CH₄ to O₂ ratio than the stoichiometric ratio). Its catalytic activity remained stable during 100 h of reaction, with no detectable carbon deposition. The oxidation of carbon deposited from pure CH₄ decomposition and from pure CO disproportionation was investigated by in situ TPO-MS study which showed that both were effectively inhibited over Ni/MgO. In addition, the catalysts were characterized by TPR, XRD and XPS. It was revealed that the excellent performance of Ni/MgO resulted from the formation of an ideal solid solution between NiO and MgO. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

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.     

Partial oxidation of methane over VOx/α-Al2O3 catalysts

The catalytic behavior of a series of VO_x/α-Al₂O₃ catalysts for the partial oxidation of methane has been evaluated. Samples with different vanadia loading were prepared from NH₄VO₃ and V(AcAc)₃. Characterization performed by TPR and oxygen uptake measurements indicates that different VO_x species are present on the samples. The catalytic patterns indicate that each V-surface species possesses different activity and selectivity. Isolated vanadates are the most active and selective towards HCHO, while V₂O₅ crystallites are detrimental to the catalytic performance.     

Catalytic decomposition of N2O over CeO2 promoted Co3O4 spinel catalyst

A series of CeO₂ promoted cobalt spinel catalysts were prepared by the co-precipitation method and tested for the decomposition of nitrous oxide (N₂O). Addition of CeO₂ to Co₃O₄ led to an improvement in the catalytic activity for N₂O decomposition. The catalyst was most active when the molar ratio of Ce/Co was around 0.05. Complete N₂O conversion could be attained over the CoCe0.05 catalyst below 400 °C even in the presence of O₂, H₂O or NO. Methods of XRD, FE-SEM, BET, XPS, H₂-TPR and O₂-TPD were used to characterize these catalysts. The analytical results indicated that the addition of CeO₂ could increase the surface area of Co₃O₄, and then improve the reduction of Co³⁺ to Co²⁺ by facilitating the desorption of adsorbed oxygen species, which is the rate-determining step of the N₂O decomposition over cobalt spinel catalyst. We conclude that these effects, caused by the addition of CeO₂, are responsible for the enhancement of catalytic activity of Co₃O₄.     

A comparative study of the partial oxidation of methane to formaldehyde on bulk and silica supported MoO3 and V2O5 catalysts

The mechanism of the partial oxidation of methane to formaldehyde with O₂ has been investigated on bulk and differently loaded silica supported (4–7 wt%) MoO₃ and (5–50 wt%) V₂O₅ catalysts at 600–650°C in a pulse reactor connected to a quadrupole mass spectrometer. The reaction rate and product distribution in the presence and in the absence of gas-phase O₂ have been evaluated. On bare SiO₂, low and medium loaded silica supported MoO₃ and V₂O₅ catalysts the reaction proceeds via a concerted mechanism involving the activation of gas-phase oxygen on the reduced sites of the catalyst surface as proved by the direct correlation between catalytic activity and density of reduced sites evaluated in steady-state conditions, while on highly loaded catalysts as well as on bulk MoO₃ and V₂O₅ the reaction rate drops dramatically and the reaction pathway via redox mechanism becomes predominant. The results indicate that the surface mechanism is essentially more effective than the redox mechanism enabling also a higher selectivity to HCHO.     

Cu-Mn氧化物催化N_2O直接分解性能

分别以Cu(NO_3)_2·3H_2O和50%Mn(NO_3)_2水溶液为铜源和锰源,K_2CO_3为沉淀剂,采用沉淀法和共沉淀法制备单一Cu、Mn氧化物催化剂和Cu-Mn-O复合氧化物催化剂,用于催化N_2O直接分解反应,并利用N_2物理吸附-脱附、XRD、FT-IR和TPR等进行表征。结果表明,单一Cu和Mn氧化物分别以体相CuO和Mn2O_3物相形式存在,Cu-Mn-O复合氧化物中除形成CuMn_2O_4尖晶石物相外,还有一定量小晶粒CuO,较单一氧化物具有更加优异的还原性能,表现出较高的催化N_2O直接分解活性。在空速10 000 h~(-1)和N_2O体积分数0.1%条件下,Cu-Mn-O复合氧化物催化剂可在440℃催化N_2O完全分解,分别较单一Cu和Mn氧化物催化剂降低了40℃和60℃。     

The role of carbon surface chemistry in N2O conversion to N2 over Ni catalyst supported on activated carbon

The effect of acidic treatments on N₂O reduction over Ni catalysts supported on activated carbon was systematically studied. The catalysts were characterized by N₂ adsorption, mass titration, temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), and X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS). It is found that surface chemistry plays an important role in N₂O-carbon reaction catalyzed by Ni catalyst. HNO₃ treatment produces more active acidic surface groups such as carboxyl and lactone, resulting in a more uniform catalyst dispersion and higher catalytic activity. However, HCl treatment decreases active acidic groups and increases the inactive groups, playing an opposite role in the catalyst dispersion and catalytic activity. A thorough discussion of the mechanism of the N₂O catalytic reduction is made based upon results from isothermal reactions, temperature-programmed reactions (TPR) and characterization of catalysts. The effect of acidic treatment on pore structure is also discussed.     

CO oxidation on Pd/CeO2–ZrO2 catalysts

The promotive effects of cerium oxide on commercial three-way catalysts (TWCs) for purification of motor exhaust gases have been widely investigated in recent years. This work shows the cooperative effects of CeO₂–Pd on the kinetics of CO oxidation over Pd/CeO₂–ZrO₂. Under reducing-to-moderately oxidizing conditions, a zero-order O₂ pressure dependence is found which can be interpreted on the basis of a mechanism involving a reaction between CO adsorbed on Pd and surface oxygen from the support. The high oxygen-exchange capability of the CeO₂–ZrO₂ support, as determined from temperature-programmed reduction/oxygen uptake measurements is suggested as being responsible for such a catalytic behavior.     

N2O catalytic decomposition over various spinel-type oxides

Various spinel-type catalysts AB₂O₄ (where A = Mg, Ca, Mn, Co, Ni, Cu, Cr, Fe, Zn and B = Cr, Fe, Co) were prepared and characterized by XRD, BET, TEM and FESEM-EDS. The performance of these catalysts towards the decomposition of N₂O to N₂ and O₂ was evaluated in a temperature programmed reaction (TPR) apparatus in the absence and the presence of oxygen. Spinel-type oxides containing Co at the B site were found to provide the best activity. The half conversion temperature of nitrous oxide over the MgCo₂O₄ catalyst was 440 °C and 470 °C in the absence and presence of oxygen, respectively (GHSV = 80,000 h⁻¹).

On the grounds of temperature programmed oxygen desorption (TPD) analyses as well as of reactive runs, the prevalent activity of the MgCo₂O₄ catalyst could be explained by its higher concentration of suprafacial, weakly chemisorbed oxygen species, whose related vacancies contribute actively to nitrous oxide catalytic decomposition. This indicates the way for the development of new, more active catalysts, possibly capable of delivering at low temperatures amounts of these oxygen species even higher than those characteristic of MgCo₂O₄.     

Reforming of methane and coalbed methane over nanocomposite Ni/ZrO2 catalyst

Nanocomposite Ni/ZrO₂-AN catalyst consisting of comparably sized Ni metal and ZrO₂ nanoparticles is studied in comparison with zirconia- and alumina-supported Ni catalysts (Ni/ZrO₂-CP and commercial Ni/Al₂O₃-C) for steam reforming of methane (SRM) and for combined steam and CO₂ reforming of methane (CSCRM). The reactions are performed under atmospheric pressure with stoichiometric amounts of H₂O and CH₄ or (H₂O + CO₂) and CH₄ at 1073 K. Under a wide range of methane space velocity (gas hourly space velocity of methane GHSV_CH4 = 12,000–96,000 ml/(h g_cat.), the nanocomposite Ni/ZrO₂-AN catalyst always shows higher activity and stability for both SRM and CSCRM reactions. The two supported Ni catalysts (Ni/ZrO₂-CP and Ni/Al₂O₃-C) exhibit fairly stable catalysis under low GHSV_CH4 but they are easily deactivated under high GHSV_CH4 and become completely inactive when they are reacted for ca.100 h at GHSV_CH4 = 48,000 ml/(h g_cat.). The CSCRM reaction is carried out with different H₂O/CO₂ ratios in the reaction feed while keeping the molar ratio (H₂O + CO₂)/CH₄ = 1.0, the results prove that the nanocomposite Ni/ZrO₂-AN catalyst can be highly promising in enabling a catalytic technology for the production of syngas with flexible H₂/CO ratios (ca. H₂/CO = 1.0–3.0) to meet the requirements of various downstream chemical syntheses.     

Methanol synthesis from CO2-rich syngas over a ZrO2 doped CuZnO catalyst

ZrO₂-doped CuZnO catalyst prepared by successive-precipitation method was investigated by ICP-AES, BET, TEM, XRD, EXAFS, H₂-TPR and CO/CO₂ hydrogenation. The active phase of copper in CuZnO catalyst prepared by co-precipitation method was well-crystallized. The presence of ZrO₂ led to a high copper dispersion, which was distinctive from CuZnO. Though the activity for carbon monoxide hydrogenation was little lower than that of CuZnO catalyst, ZrO₂-doped CuZnO catalyst showed much higher activity and selectivity towards methanol synthesis from carbon dioxide hydrogenation. Moreover, ZrO₂-doped CuZnO catalyst showed high performance for methanol synthesis from CO₂-rich syngas.     

Selective catalytic reduction of N2O in industrial emissions containing O2, H2O and SO2: behavior of Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts

The catalytic behavior in N₂O reduction by propane in the presence of O₂, H₂O and SO₂ of Fe/ZSM-5 catalysts prepared by ion exchange and chemical vapour deposition (CVD) is reported. The catalyst prepared by CVD shows a lower dependence of the rate of selective N₂O reduction on the decrease in C₃H₈ to N₂O ratio in the feed and a higher resistance to deactivation by SO₂ in accelerated durability tests with high SO₂ concentration (500 ppm). This catalyst shows stable catalytic behavior in the presence of SO₂ for more than 600 h of time-on-stream. Characterization of the catalysts by UV–VIS–NIR diffuse reflectance indicates that the poor performances of the sample prepared by ion exchange could be related to the presence of highly clustered Fe³⁺ species, in this catalyst. On the other hand, Fe₂O₃ particles are not present in the sample prepared by CVD while mainly isolated Fe³⁺ ions and iron-oxide nanoclusters are present.     

Partial oxidation of methane over rhodium catalysts for power generation applications

The partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas, i.e. H₂ and CO, over supported Rh catalysts was investigated at atmospheric pressure. The influence of support material, Rh loading and the presence of water vapor on the methane conversion efficiency and the product gas composition was studied. The catalysts containing ceria in the support material showed the highest activity and formation of H₂ and CO. By increasing the Rh loading, a decrease of the ignition temperature was obtained. The addition of water vapor to the reactant gas mixture was found to increase the ignition temperature and the formation of hydrogen, which is favorable for combustion applications where the catalytic POM stage is followed by H₂-stabilized homogeneous combustion.