Synthesis and properties of a novel catalyst for the combustion of methane. Annual report, July 1987-September 1988. [Palladium on alumina stable up to 700/sup 0/C]

Technical Report · Sat Oct 01 04:00:00 EDT 1988

OSTI ID:6349124

Hicks, R F; Young, M L

The objective of this research, funded by the Physical Sciences Department of the Gas Research Institute, was to develop criteria for the design of precious-metal catalysts for the complete oxidation of methane. It was found that palladium on high-surface-area gamma alumina is stable in oxidizing environments up to 700 C. Platinum, on the other hand, will agglomerate and volatilize at temperatures in excess of 500 C. The activity of the catalyst for methane oxidation depends both on the composition and structure of the metal crystallites. Palladium is 15 to 60 times more active than platinum. For a given metal, the turnover rates can vary by more than one hundred. Crystallites exposing smooth planes appear to be much more active than those exposing low coordination sites, such as step, edge, corner and defect atoms. The very highest turnover rates for methane oxidation are obtained on large, smooth crystallites of palladium on alumina.

• Research Organization: California Univ., Los Angeles (USA). Dept. of Chemical Engineering
• OSTI ID: 6349124
• Report Number(s): PB-89-161400/XAB
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

03 NATURAL GAS
034000* -- Natural Gas-- Combustion
ALKANES
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
CATALYSTS
CATALYTIC CONVERTERS
CHALCOGENIDES
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COMBUSTION PRODUCTS
CRYSTAL STRUCTURE
DOCUMENT TYPES
ELEMENTS
EQUIPMENT
HIGH TEMPERATURE
HYDROCARBONS
METALS
METHANE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
OXIDATION
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PALLADIUM
PERFORMANCE TESTING
PLATINUM
PLATINUM METALS
POLLUTION CONTROL EQUIPMENT
PROGRESS REPORT
SYNTHESIS
TESTING
TRANSITION ELEMENTS