Gold catalysts supported on mixed oxides for hydrogen production

Abstract

The support of this new catalytic system concerns ceria-modified mesoporous titania (CeMTi). Mesoporous TiO 2 (MTiO 2 ) with high surface area and uniform pore size distribution was synthesized using surfactant templating method through a neutral [C 13 (EO)6-Ti(OC3H 7 ) 4 ] assembly pathway. Ceria modifying additive was deposited on suspended in water MTiO by means of precipitation with Na 2 CO 3 . Gold-based catalysts with different gold loading were synthesized by deposition-preeipitation of gold hydroxide on mixed metal oxide support. The support and the catalysts were characterized by powder X- ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and N 2 adsorption analysis. The catalytic behavior of the gold-based catalysts was evaluated in water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) at a wide temperature range (140–300 °C). The influence of gold content and particle size on the catalytic performance was investigated. The CO conversion of the new catalysts was compared with that related to the gold catalysts supported on simple oxides CeO and mesoporous TiO as well as and to reference Au/TiO 2 type A (World Gold Council).