Synthesis and properties of PdO/CeO2-Al2O3 catalysts for methane combustion

This study focuses on the loading of catalytic materials, e.g., palladium on the surface of supporting materials, with the aim to obtain catalysts with high activity for methane combustion. The catalyst PdO/CeO2-Al2O3 was prepared by impregnation under ultrasonic condition. The effect of different activation methods on the activity of catalysts for methane catalytic combustion was tested. The properties of reaction and adsorption of oxygen species on catalyst surface were characterized by H2-temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), and O2-temperature programmed desorption (O2-TPD). Furthermore, the sulfur tolerance and sulfur poisoning mode were investigated. The results indicate that the catalyst PdO/CeO2-Al2O3 activated with rapid activation shows higher activity for methane combustion and better sulfur tolerance. The result of sulfur content analysis shows that there is a large number of sulfur species on the catalyst’s surface after reactivation at high temperature. It proves that the activity of catalysts cannot be fully restored by hightemperature reactivation.