Preferential oxidation of CO (CO-PROX) over CuO x/CeO 2 coated microchannel reactor

Abstract

The general aspects of the synthesis and characterization results of a CuO x /CeO 2 catalyst were presented. In addition the principal steps for manufacturing a microchannel reactor and for the coating of the CuO x /CeO 2 catalyst onto the microchannels walls, were also summarized. The catalytic activity of this microchannel reactor during the preferential oxidation of CO (CO-PROX) was evaluated employing a feed-stream that simulates a reformate off-gas after the WGS unit. Two activation atmospheres were studied (H 2/N 2 and O 2/N 2). The reducing pretreatment improved the resistance to deactivation by formation of carbonaceous species over the catalyst surface at high temperatures. The presence of H 2O and CO 2 in the feed-stream was also analyzed indicating that the adsorption of CO 2 inhibited the conversion of CO at lower temperatures because these compounds modified the active sites through the formation of carbonaceous species on the catalyst surface. Finally, the experimental results of the microreactor performance were compared with CFD simulations that were carried out using a kinetic for the CuO x /CeO 2 powder catalyst. The experimental results were reasonably well described by the model, thus confirming its validity.