On the role of size controlled Pt particles in nanostructured Pt-containing Al2O3 catalysts for partial oxidation of methane

The effect of the Pt loadings and particles sizes on the stability of Pt(x wt%)/Al2O3 catalysts were investigated in the partial oxidation of methane (POM) reaction. The Al2O3 support was prepared by sol-gel method and different Pt loadings, varying from 0.5 to 2.0 wt% were incorporated to alumina through the incipient wetness impregnation method. The physicochemical features of the catalysts were determined by XRD, ICP-OES, Nitrogen-sorption, UV-Visible, H-2-TPR, CO-DRIFTS, SEM-EDS, XPS and HRTEM techniques. The metal dispersion was evaluated in the cyclohexane dehydrogenation reaction. Lower Pt loadings resulted in well dispersed Pt-o nanoparticles with an enhanced activity in cyclohexane dehydrogenation and POM reactions. With increasing Pt loading to 2.0 wt%, the Pt nanoparticles of the Pt(2.0 wt%)/Al2O3 showed a methane conversion of 63% in 24 h of time on stream, and the catalyst was very selective to H-2 and CO. Based on the HRTEM, XPS and Raman spectroscopy techniques, an increment in the Pt loadings evidenced an enrichment of Pt-o clusters on the surface, however, no heavy carbon deposits formation was observed. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.