Catalytic performance and characterization of Pt-Co/Al2O3 catalysts for CO2 reforming of CH4 to synthesis gas

Pt-Co/Al2O3 catalyst has been studied for CO2 reforming of CH4 to synthesis gas. It was found that the catalytic performance of the catalyst was sensitive to calcination temperature. When Co/Al2O3 was calcined at 1473 K prior to adding a small amount of Pt to it, the resulting bimetallic catalyst showed high activity, optimal stability and excellent resistance to carbon deposition, which was more effective to the reaction than Co/Al2O3 and Pt/Al2O3 catalysts. At lower metal loading, catalyst activity decreased in the following order: Pt-Co/ Al2O3 > Pt/Al2O3 >>Co/Al2O3. With 9% Co, the Co/Al2O3 calcined at 923 K was also active for CO2 reforming of CH4, however, its carbon formation was much more fast than that of the Pt-Co/Al2O3 catalyst. The XRD results indicated that Pt species well dispersed over the bimetallic catalyst. Its high dispersion was related to the presence of CoAl2O4, formed during calcining of Co/Al2O3 at high temperature before Pt addition. Promoted by Pt, CoAl2O4 in the catalyst could be reduced partially even at 923 K, the temperature of pre-reduction for the reaction, confirmed by TPR. Based on these results, it was considered that the zerovalent platinum with high dispersion over the catalyst surface and the zerovalent cobalt resulting from CoAl2O4 reduction are responsible for high activity of the Pt-Co/Al2O3 catalyst, and the remain CoAl2O4 is beneficial to suppression of carbon deposition over the catalyst.