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Methane oxidation over palladium on zirconia prepared from amorphous Pd[sub 1]Zr[sub 3] alloy

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis; (United States)
 [1]; ;  [2]
  1. Paul Scherrer Institut, Villigen (Switzerland)
  2. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zuerich (Switzerland)

Catalysts for methane oxidation have been prepared by oxidation of amorphous Pd[sub 2]Zr[sub 3] metal alloy under different conditions. A sequence of chemical and morphological changes occurring during the alloy oxidation process leads to highly active microporous palladium/zirconia catalysts suitable for the deep oxidation of methane. Depending on the activation temperature, distinct PdO species interacting with zirconia exist in these catalysts, as revealed by oxygen desorption and thermoanalytical measurements. Smaller PdO species were found to decompose at a markedly higher temperature than larger PdO species, which only interact weakly with the support. Kinetic studies were carried out in a fixed-bed microreactor at temperatures of 400-800 K and atmospheric pressure using a reactant mixture with a ratio CH[sub 4]:O[sub 2] = 1:4. Turnover frequencies, based on the exposed palladium surface atoms determined by CO chemisorption, were more than two times higher than those of palladium on zirconia catalysts prepared by impregnation or by coprecipitation. Methane oxidation measurements carried out over the conventionally prepared palladium/zirconia catalysts and a corresponding catalyst derived from Pd[sub 1]Zr[sub 3] showed CO and H[sub 2] selectivities higher than 90% under reducing conditions, i.e., with a reactant ratio CH[sub 4]:O[sub 2] = 8:1 at 870 K. 29 refs., 12 figs., 4 tabs.

OSTI ID:
6153459
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis; (United States), Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis; (United States) Vol. 141:2; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English