Syngas conversion using RhVO4 and Rh2MnO4 catalysts: Regeneration and redispersion of Rh metal by calcination and reduction treatments

The hydrogenation of CO over mixed oxides (RhVO₄, Rh₂MnO₄) supported on SiO₂ has been studied after H₂ reduction at 300°C and at 500°C, and the results compared with those of unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. Rh was more highly dispersed (40 Å) after the decomposition of RhVO₄ by the H₂ reduction than those of Rh₂MnO₄/SiO₂ and unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. The activity and the selectivity to C₂ oxygenates of the mixed-oxide catalysts after the H₂ reduction were higher than those of the unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalysts, but the activity of the RhVO₄/SiO₂ catalyst increased more dramatically after the decomposition by the H₂ reduction at 300°C, and hence the yield of C₂ oxygenates increased. These results suggest that a strong metal–oxide interaction (SMOI) was induced by the decomposition of the mixed oxides after the H₂ reduction. The catalytic activity and selectivity were reproduced repeatedly by the calcination and reduction treatments of the spent (used) catalyst because of the regeneration of RhVO₄ and redispersion of Rh metal.     

Study of Ag/La0.6Ce0.4CoO3 catalysts for direct decomposition and reduction of nitrogen oxides with propene in the presence of oxygen

Perovskite-type oxide La_0.6Ce_0.4CoO₃ and its doped Ag catalysts were prepared and their catalytic performances were evaluated for the direct decomposition of NO and the selective reduction of NO with propene in the presence of oxygen. A noticeable enhancement in activity was achieved by doping Ag and the optimum Ag loading was 1%. The effects of H₂O, SO₂, CO₂ and O₂ on the performances of Ag/La_0.6Ce_0.4CoO₃ catalysts for NO decomposition were also investigated. The resistance against H₂O and SO₂ appears satisfactory. The inhibition by CO₂ is strong, although it is reversible. Oxygen did not inhibit the NO decomposition reaction but significantly promoted it. Compared with other perovskite-type oxides reported previously, higher conversions were obtained over the present catalysts for the NO reduction by propene. We speculate that the decomposition of NO is the predominant process even in the presence of propene. The catalysts were characterized by N₂-adsorption, XRD, XPS and NO-TPD and some explanations were put forward.     

CO hydrogenation over a rhodium vanadate catalyst: Reduction and regeneration of RhVO4 on SiO2

The hydrogenation of CO over an Rh vanadate (RhVO₄) catalyst supported on SiO₂ (RhVO₄/SiO₂) has been investigated after H₂ reduction at 500°C, and the results are compared with those of vanadia-promoted (V₂O₅–Rh/SiO₂) and unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. The mean size of Rh particles, which were dispersed by the decomposition of RhVO₄ after the H₂ reduction, was smaller (41 Å) than those (91–101 Å) of V₂O₅–Rh/SiO₂ and Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. The RhVO₄/SiO₂ catalyst showed higher activity and selectivity to C₂ oxygenates than the unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalyst after the H₂ pretreatment. The CO conversion of the RhVO₄/SiO₂ catalyst was much higher than that of V₂O₅–Rh/SiO₂ catalyst, and the yield of C₂ oxygenates increased. We also found that the RhVO₄/SiO₂ catalyst can be regenerated by calcination or O₂ treatment at high temperature after the reaction.     

Two conversion maxima at 373 and 573 K in the reduction of nitrogen monoxide with hydrogen over Pd/TiO2 catalyst

Supporting Pt and Pd catalysts have been examined for the reduction of NO with H₂ in the presence of oxygen and moisture. All catalysts showed a conversion maximum in the NO reduction at around 373 K. An additional conversion maximum was found to appear at around 573 K over several metal oxides supporting Pd, and Pd/TiO₂ gave the highest conversion at around 573 K among the catalysts tested. In the reaction at 373 K, NO might be reduced directly by H₂ both on Pt and Pd catalysts to give N₂ and N₂O. At the conversion maximum of the Pd/TiO₂ catalyst at 575 K, however, in situ generated NO₂ seems to react with H₂.     

金属硫酸盐与氧化物助剂对SCR脱硝催化剂性能的影响

通过分步浸渍法制备了一系列以碱土金属或过渡金属为助剂,低钒含量的V-M_x(SO₄)_y-W/Ti及V-M_xO_y-W/Ti催化剂,对负载相同金属离子硫酸盐及氧化物的催化剂性质进行了对比考察。通过选择性催化还原(SCR)反应对催化剂进行活性评价,结果显示,负载某金属硫酸盐比相应氧化物助剂的催化剂活性好。负载钴离子的催化剂具有良好的低温活性,进而对负载钴离子的催化剂进行了抗硫抗水性能测试,并借助XRD、NH₃-TPD、H₂-TPR、TG、BET对负载不同金属硫酸盐及氧化物助剂的催化剂进行了表征,揭示了活性好的催化剂(如负载CoSO₄的催化剂)通常具有较多的表面酸及较好的低温还原能力。     

Textural properties evolution of Ir and Ru supported on alumina catalysts during hydrazine decomposition in satellite thruster

Ir/Al₂O₃, Ru/Al₂O₃, and Ir-Ru/Al₂O₃ catalysts with total metallic contents of 30% in mass were prepared by an incipient wetness method. The characterization of these materials, before and after their use for hydrazine decomposition in a satellite thruster, was performed by measurement techniques of specific surface area, volume and pores size distribution, H₂ chemisorption, TEM and basic chemical analysis. An average decrease of 11% in the BET surface area was observed, independent of the catalyst composition. The total specific pore volume remained unchanged because the volume reduction in the size range diameters between 1.0 and 10 nm was compensated by the increase in the diameters size range between 10 and 100 nm. A reduction of the H₂ quantity adsorbed on the Ir/Al₂O₃ catalyst can be explained by the metal loss through erosion as well as by its partial occlusion within the pores of the alumina support. On the other hand, catalysts containing Ru showed an increase of H₂ chemisorbed amount, attributed to a more complete reduction of this material after hydrazine decomposition, in spite of the erosion and occlusion losses. Such observations were confirmed by TEM, which showed a great stability of the distributions of the metallic particle sizes in all catalysts.     

Supported honeycomb monolith catalysts for high-temperature ammonia decomposition and H2S removal

Catalysts that have potential in simultaneous removal of H₂S and NH₃ decomposition were developed. The monolith supports of high surface area and acceptable mechanical strength based on titania and silica–alumina precursors were prepared and tested. Preparation routine and composition of Mn, Fe and Cu oxides supported honeycomb catalysts have been optimized. Impregnated and washcoated monolith catalysts were tested in ammonia high-temperature decomposition.     

RuO_ 2/MO_x-TiO_2(M=Ce、Mn、La、Zr、Co)催化剂制备及其氯化氢氧化性能

氯化氢催化氧化制氯气具有高效率、低能耗、环境友好等优点,一直是研究的热点。首先采用浸渍法制备RuO_2/TiO_2催化剂,并通过催化活性评价和H_2-TPR表征优化Ru的负载量。然后制备Ce、Mn、La、Zr、Co等氧化物修饰的MO_x-TiO_2(M=Ce、Mn、La、Zr、Co)载体及RuO_2/MOxTiO_2催化剂,考察不同修饰物对催化剂氯化氢氧化性能的影响。结果表明,采用该型号TiO_2载体时最佳负载质量分数为2%~3%;MO_x-TiO_2载体中MOx修饰物均呈高分散状态,La、Zr、Ce等氧化物修饰后,TiO_2晶粒尺寸增大,其中Zr、Mn、Co等氧化物掺杂进入TiO_2晶格。Ce和Zr氧化物修饰可以提高RuO_2/TiO_2催化剂催化活性,Mn、Co、La等氧化物修饰对活性有不利影响。Mn、Co氧化物修饰可以降低反应活化能,所以这两种氧化物修饰的催化剂催化活性较低是由指前因子减小导致的,这意味着进一步提高RuO_2/MO_x-TiO_2(M=Mn、Co)催化剂活性组分分散性才能开发出活性更好的催化剂。     

Controllable synthesis of novel nanoporous manganese oxide catalysts for the direct synthesis of imines from alcohols and amines

A novel template-free oxalate route was applied to synthesize different mesoporous manganese oxides (amorphous manganese oxide (AMO), Mn₅O₈, Mn₃O₄, MnO₂) in the narrow temperature range from 350℃ to 400℃ by controlling the calcination conditions, which were employed as the efficient catalysts for the oxidative coupling of alcohols with amines to imines. The chemical and structural properties of the manganese oxides were characterized by the methods of thermogravimetry analysis and heat flow (TG-DSC), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen sorption, scanning electron microscope (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), H₂ temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), and inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) techniques. The structures of different manganese oxides were confirmed by characterization. The M-350 (AMO) presented the maximum surface area, amorphous nature, the lowest reduction temperature, the higher (Mn³⁺ + Mn⁴⁺)/Mn²⁺ ratio, and the higher adsorbed oxygen species compared to other samples. Among the catalysts, M-350 showed the best catalytic performance using air as an oxidant, and the conversion of benzyl alcohol (BA) and the selectivity of N-benzylideneaniline (NBA) reached as high as 100% and 97.1% respectively at the lower reaction temperature (80℃) for 1 h. M-350 had also the highest TOF value (0.0100 mmol·mg^-1·h^-1) compared to the other manganese oxide catalysts. The catalyst was reusable and gave 95.8% conversion after 5 reuse tests, the XRD pattern of the reactivated M-350 did not show any obvious change. Lattice oxygen mobility and (Mn³⁺ + Mn⁴⁺)/Mn²⁺ ratio were found to play the important roles in the catalytic activity of aerobic reactions.     

Effective regeneration of thermally deactivated commercial V-W-Ti catalysts

An effective method for the regeneration of thermally deactivated commercial monolith SCR catalysts was investigated. Two types of regenerated solutions, namely NH₄Cl (1 mol/L) and dilute H₂SO₄ (0.5 mol/L), were employed to treat the used catalyst. The effects of temperature and the regeneration process on the structural and textural properties of the catalysts were determined by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, N₂ adsorption/desorption, elemental analysis and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The results suggest that the anatase phase of the used catalyst is maintained after exposure to high temperatures. Some of the catalytic activity was restored after regeneration. The catalyst regenerated by aqueous NH₄Cl had a higher activity than that of the catalyst treated by dilute H₂SO₄. The main reason is that the NH₃ generated from the decomposition of NH₄Cl at high temperatures can be adsorbed onto the catalyst which promotes the reaction. The aggregated V₂O₅ were partially re-dispersed during the regeneration process, and the intrinsic oxidation of ammonia with high concentrations of O₂ is a factor that suppresses the catalytic activity.     

M_(0.5)Co_(2.5)O_4(M=La,Ce,Pr,Nd)尖晶石型复合氧化物催化剂催化分解N_2O性能

采用共沉淀法制备了M_(0.5)Co_(2.5)O_4(M=La,Ce,Pr,Nd)钴基尖晶石型复合氧化物催化剂,运用XRD、SEM、H_2-TPR和O_2-TPD-TG等对催化剂物化性能进行表征,并在固定床微型反应器中评价催化剂催化分解N_2O性能。结果表明,稀土金属掺杂改性的钴基尖晶石型复合氧化物催化剂粒径明显减小,比表面积增加,氧化还原性能得到改善,催化分解N_2O活性提高,其中,M_(0.5)Co_(2.5)O_4催化剂催化分解N2O温度低,T10和T95分别为342℃和499℃。     

The behaviour of Ru/Fe2O3 catalysts and Fe2O3 supports in the TPR and TPO conditions

The texture of Fe₂O₃ support and Ru/Fe₂O₃ catalysts supported on iron oxides obtained from β-FeOOH (B) or δ-FeOOH (D) and their catalytic activity in WGSR were studied. Also their susceptibilities to reduction and reoxidation, were studied by TPR, using H₂ or CO and TPO methods. In the case of TPR_CO the composition of the reducing mixture containing traces of H₂O enabled investigation of water gas shift reaction (WGSR).

The catalysts from series D were found more readily reducible and oxidised than those from series B. The supported ruthenium enhanced the redox effects and caused the appearance of additional effects related directly to its presence. Depending on the kind of support and on ruthenium presence considerable differences in temperatures of WGSR onset were found. It is suggested that the susceptibility of the catalysts to reduction and oxidation is responsible for their activity in the WGSR.     

TAP study of NOx storage and reduction on Pt/Al2O3 and Pt/Ba/Al2O3

A systematic mechanistic study of NO storage and reduction over Pt/Al₂O₃ and Pt/BaO/Al₂O₃ is carried out using Temporal Analysis of Products (TAP). NO pulse and NO/H₂ pump-probe experiments at 350 °C on pre-reduced, pre-oxidized, and pre-nitrated catalysts reveal the complex interplay between storage and reduction chemistries and the importance of the Pt/Ba coupling. NO pulsing experiments on both catalysts show that NO decomposes to major product N₂ on clean Pt but the rate declines as oxygen accumulates on the Pt. The storage of NO over Pt/BaO/Al₂O₃ is an order of magnitude higher than on Pt/Al₂O₃ showing participation of Ba in the storage even in the absence of gas phase O₂. Either oxygen spillover or transient NO oxidation to NO₂ is postulated as the first steps for NO storage on Pt/BaO/Al₂O₃. The storage on Pt/Ba/Al₂O₃ commences as soon as Pt–O species are formed. Post-storage H₂ reduction provides evidence that a fraction of NO is not stored in close proximity to Pt and is more difficult to reduce. A closely coupled Pt/Ba interfacial process is corroborated by NO/H₂ pump-probe experiments. NO conversion to N₂ by decomposition is sustained on clean Pt using excess H₂ pump-probe feeds. With excess NO pump-probe feeds NO is converted to N₂ and N₂O via the sequence of barium nitrate and NO decomposition. Pump-probe experiments with pre-oxidized or pre-nitrated catalyst show that N₂ production occurs by the decomposition of NO supplied in a NO pulse or from the decomposition of NOx stored on the Ba. The transient evolution of the two pathways depends on the extent of pre-nitration and the NO/H₂ feed ratio.     

Catalytic reduction of NOx with H2/CO/CH4 over PdMOR catalysts

Conversion of NO_x with reducing agents H₂, CO and CH₄, with and without O₂, H₂O, and CO₂ were studied with catalysts based on MOR zeolite loaded with palladium and cerium. The catalysts reached high NO_x to N₂ conversion with H₂ and CO (>90% conversion and N₂ selectivity) range under lean conditions. The formation of N₂O is absent in the presence of both H₂ and CO together with oxygen in the feed, which will be the case in lean engine exhaust. PdMOR shows synergic co-operation between H₂ and CO at 450–500 K. The positive effect of cerium is significant in the case of H₂ and CH₄ reducing agent but is less obvious with H₂/CO mixture and under lean conditions. Cerium lowers the reducibility of Pd species in the zeolite micropores. The catalysts showed excellent stability at temperatures up to 673 K in a feed with 2500 ppm CH₄, 500 ppm NO, 5% O₂, 10% H₂O (0–1% H₂), N₂ balance but deactivation is noticed at higher temperatures. Combining results of the present study with those of previous studies it shows that the PdMOR-based catalysts are good catalysts for NO_x reduction with H₂, CO, hydrocarbons, alcohols and aldehydes under lean conditions at temperatures up to 673 K.     

Deactivation by SO2 of MnOx/Al2O3 catalysts used for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 at low temperatures

Low loaded alumina supported manganese oxides exhibit a high activity and selectivity for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO in the temperature range 383–623 K. The impact of low concentrations of SO₂ on the activity of these catalysts has been investigated. Upon SO₂ addition to the flue gas, the catalysts lose their high initial activity in a few hours due to stoichiometric SO₂ uptake. Analysis of the deactivated samples by mercury porosimetry, FTIR, TPR and TPD shows that the deactivation is not due to the formation of (bulk or surface) Al₂(SO₄)₃ or deposition of ammonium sulphates. Comparison of the results with unsupported Mn₂O₃ and MnO₂ provides evidence that formation of surface MnSO₄ is the main deactivation route. This process is independent of the oxidation state of the manganese and the presence of oxygen in the gas stream. The formed sulphates decompose at 1020 K and are reduced by H₂ at temperatures above 810 K. This means that regeneration of the catalysts is not very feasible. The results restrict practical application of these catalysts to sulphur free conditions.     

Co3O4/CeO2 composite oxides for methane emissions abatement: Relationship between Co3O4–CeO2 interaction and catalytic activity

Co₃O₄/CeO₂ composite oxides with different cobalt loading (5, 15, 30, 50, 70 wt.% as Co₃O₄) were prepared by co-precipitation method and investigated for the oxidation of methane under stoichiometric conditions. Pure oxides, Co₃O₄ and CeO₂ were used as reference. Characterization studies by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET, temperature programmed reduction/oxidation (TPR/TPO) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were carried out.

An improvement of the catalytic activity and thermal stability of the composite oxides was observed with respect to pure Co₃O₄ in correspondence of Co₃O₄–CeO₂ containing 30% by weight of Co₃O₄. The combined effect of cobalt oxide and ceria, at this composition, strongly influences the morphological and redox properties of the composite oxides, by dispersing the Co₃O₄ phase and promoting the efficiency of the Co³⁺–Co²⁺ redox couple. The presence in the sample Co₃O₄(30 wt.%)–CeO₂ of a high relative amount of Ce³⁺/(Ce⁴⁺ + Ce³⁺) as detected by XPS confirms the enhanced oxygen mobility.

The catalysts stability under reaction conditions was investigated by XRD and XPS analysis of the used samples, paying particular attention to the Co₃O₄ phase decomposition. Methane oxidation tests were performed over fresh (as prepared) and thermal aged samples (after ageing at 750 °C for 7 h, in furnace). The resistance to water vapour poisoning was evaluated for pure Co₃O₄ and Co₃O₄(30 wt.%)–CeO₂, performing the tests in the presence of 5 vol.% H₂O. A methane oxidation test upon hydrothermal ageing (flowing at 600 °C for 16 h a mixture 5 vol.% H₂O + 5 vol.%O₂ in He) of the Co₃O₄(30 wt.%)–CeO₂ sample was also performed. All the results confirm the superiority of this composite oxide.     

Coke study on MgO-promoted Ni/Al2O3 catalyst in combined H2O and CO2 reforming of methane for gas to liquid (GTL) process

MgO-promoted Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts have been investigated with respect to catalytic activity and coke formation in combined steam and carbon dioxide reforming of methane (CSCRM) to develop a highly active and stable catalyst for gas to liquid (GTL) processes. Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts were promoted through varying the MgO content by the incipient wetness method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET surface area, H₂-temperature programmed reduction (TPR), H₂-chemisorption and CO₂-temperature programmed desorption (TPD) were used to observe the characteristics of the prepared catalysts. The coke formation and amount in used catalysts were examined by SEM and TGA, respectively. H₂/CO ratio of 2 was achieved in CSCRM by controlling the feed H₂O/CO₂ ratio. The catalysts prepared with 20 wt.% MgO exhibit the highest catalytic performance and have high coke resistance in CSCRM. MgO promotion forms MgAl₂O₄ spinel phase, which is stable at high temperatures and effectively prevents coke formation by increasing the CO₂ adsorption due to the increase in base strength on the surface of catalyst.     

Superior performance of Ir-substituted hexaaluminate catalysts for N2O decomposition

Novel Ir-substituted hexaaluminate catalysts were developed for the first time and used for catalytic decomposition of high concentration of N₂O. The catalysts were prepared by one-pot precipitation and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N₂-adsorption, scanning electronic microscopy (SEM) and temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR). The XRD results showed that only a limited amount of iridium was incorporated into the hexaaluminate lattice by substituting Al³⁺ to form BaIr_xFe_1−xAl₁₁O₁₉ after being calcined at 1200 °C, while the other part of iridium existed as IrO₂ phase. The activity tests for high concentration (30%, v/v) of N₂O decomposition demonstrated that the BaIr_xFe_1−xAl₁₁O₁₉ hexaaluminates exhibited much higher activities and stabilities than the Ir/Al₂O₃-1200, and the pre-reduction with H₂ was essential for activating the catalysts. By comparing BaIr_xFe_1−xAl₁₁O₁₉ with BaIr_xAl_12−xO₁₉ (x = 0–0.8), it was found that iridium was the active component in the N₂O decomposition and the framework iridium was more active than the large IrO₂ particles. On the other hand, Fe facilitated the formation of hexaaluminate as well as the incorporation of iridium into the framework.     

Strong rhodium–niobia interaction in Rh/Nb2O5, Nb2O5–Rh/SiO2 and RhNbO4/SiO2 catalysts: Application to selective CO oxidation and CO hydrogenation

The extent of Rh–niobia interaction in niobia-supported Rh (Rh/Nb₂O₅), niobia-promoted Rh/SiO₂ (Nb₂O₅–Rh/SiO₂) and RhNbO₄/SiO₂ catalyst after H₂ reduction has been investigated by H₂ and CO chemisorption measurements. These catalysts have been applied to selective CO oxidation in H₂ (CO+H₂+O₂) and CO hydrogenation (CO+H₂), and the results are compared with those of unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. It has been found that niobia (NbO_x) increases the activity and selectivity for both the reactions.     

Complete oxidation of methane at low temperature over Pt and Pd catalysts for the abatement of lean-burn natural gas fuelled vehicles emissions: influence of water and sulphur containing compounds

The catalytic activity of fresh Pd and Pt catalysts supported on γ-alumina in the complete oxidation of CH₄ traces under lean-burn conditions was studied in the presence or the absence of water or H₂S. Steam-aged catalysts were also studied in order to simulate long-term ageing in real lean-burn natural gas fuelled vehicles (NGVs) exhaust conditions. Without water or H₂S added to the feed, Pd catalysts exhibit a superior catalytic activity in methane oxidation compared to Pt ones, whatever the catalysts were fresh or aged. The addition of 10 vol.% water vapour to the feed strongly affects the activity of the fresh Pd catalyst, thus being only slightly more efficient than the fresh Pt one. H₂S has a strong poisoning effect on the catalytic activity of Pd catalysts, while Pt catalysts are more resistant. The fresh H₂S-poisoned Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst was studied by TPD in O₂/He. Poisoning species decompose above 873 K as SO₂ and O₂ in relative concentrations consistent with the decomposition of surface sulphate species. However, a treatment in O₂/He at temperatures as high as 923 K does not allow the complete regeneration of the catalytic activity of H₂S-poisoned Pd/Al₂O₃. A mechanism involving the poisoning of PdO by sulphate species is proposed. Different diffusion processes by which these sulphate species can migrate back and forth between PdO and the support, depending on the experimental conditions, are suggested.