The promotion effect of catalytic activity by Ru substitution at the B site of La1-x Sr x Cr1-y Ru y O3-z for propane steam reforming

A series of La1-x Sr (x) Cr1-y Ru (y) O3-delta (0.1 a parts per thousand currency sign x a parts per thousand currency sign 0.5, 0.05 a parts per thousand currency sign y a parts per thousand currency sign 0.15) materials was prepared by the sol-gel method to develop alternative catalysts for propane steam reforming. Catalyst characteristics were evaluated using physicochemical methods including X-ray diffraction, Brunauer-Emmett-Teller methods, H-2 temperature-programmed reduction, and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). Effects of the amount of ruthenium (Ru) and strontium and the steam-to-carbon ratio (S/C) were investigated. An increase in Ru content led to increased propane conversion and H-2 yield, especially below 700 A degrees C. Dramatic enhancement of catalytic activity was observed with La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.85Ru0.15O3 under 600 A degrees C, achieving propane conversion over 79% between 600 and 800 A degrees C with maximum propane conversion and H-2 yield of 98.3% and 63.3%, respectively. Also, good resistance to carbon formation for the La0.8Sr0.2Cr0.85Ru0.15O3 catalyst was confirmed by long-term testing and TGA analysis.