Skip to main content
U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Influence of Pretreatment Temperature on the Bimetallic Interactions in Pt-Re/Al2O3 Reforming Catalysts Studied by X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy

Journal Article · · Journal of Catalysis
The influence of pretreatment temperature on the metal function of a commercial Pt-Re/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} reforming catalyst was studied by X-ray absorption spectroscopy. By simultaneously examining the rhenium L{sub III} and platinum L{sub III} EXAFS data, the bimetallic interaction and the metal-support interaction can be distinguished from the overall spectrum. The results show that if the catalyst is dried in air at temperatures {<=}500{sup o}C before reduction at 480{sup o}C, bimetallic particles of platinum and rhenium are formed. Drying at higher temperatures and in absence of air inhibits the transport of mobile (rhenium) species on the surface causing no intimate contact between the two metals. Platinum L{sub III} EXAFS data show that the average particle size of the bimetallic particles on the alumina surface is less than 10 {angstrom}. The results from the rhenium L{sub III} EXAFS analysis confirm that rhenium is not completely reduced to metallic rhenium after reduction, with a significant fraction of the rhenium present in low, positive oxidation states and in intimate contact with the support. The EXAFS data are consistent with a structural model of rhenium metal particles 1-3 nm wide with smaller platinum particles situated within or at the boundary of the rhenium particles, and that moderate heating in presence of air (i.e., moist) provides the best conditions for transport of mobile rhenium species on the surface, and hence alloy formation.
Research Organization:
Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL) National Synchrotron Light Source
Sponsoring Organization:
Doe - Office Of Science
DOE Contract Number:
AC02-98CH10886
OSTI ID:
930557
Report Number(s):
BNL--80699-2008-JA
Journal Information:
Journal of Catalysis, Journal Name: Journal of Catalysis Journal Issue: 2 Vol. 204; ISSN 0021-9517; ISSN JCTLA5
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English