Effect of support on partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over supported rhodium catalysts

Journal Article · Fri Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1999 · Journal of Catalysis

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1006/jcat.1999.2593· OSTI ID:20000966

Ruckenstein, E; Wang, H Y

Two kinds of oxides, reducible and irreducible, were used as supports. It was found that the reducible-oxides-supported rhodium catalysts provide, in general, much lower activities and selectivities than those supported on irreducible oxides. The exposed metal surface areas of the reduced catalysts were determined, and the reaction behaviors of CH{sub 4}/O{sub 2} (2/1) over the pure supports and the precalcined 1% Rh(O)/M{sub x}O{sub y} catalysts were investigated in a pulse microreactor. It is suggested that the partial coverage of rhodium sites by the reducible oxides and the combustion of methane that occurs over these oxide sites are responsible for the lower activities and selectivities observed over this kind of supported catalysts. Among the irreducible metal oxides, {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, La{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and MgO provided stable catalytic activities and selectivities during 100 h of reaction, and the activity increased in the sequence La{sub 2}O{sub 3} < {gamma}-Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} {le} MgO. Possible explanations for stability are proposed on the basis of TPR and XRD experiments. In addition, the nature of the active sites is examined based on pulse reaction experiments.

• Research Organization: State Univ. of New York, Amherst, NY (US)
• OSTI ID: 20000966
• Journal Information: Journal of Catalysis, Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 187; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA5
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
10 SYNTHETIC FUELS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CATALYST SUPPORTS
CATALYTIC EFFECTS
LANTHANUM OXIDES
MAGNESIUM OXIDES
METHANE
PARTIAL OXIDATION PROCESSES
PERFORMANCE
RHODIUM
SYNTHESIS GAS