Preparation of meso-macroporous α-alumina using carbon nanotube as the template for the mesopore and their application to the preferential oxidation of CO in H2-rich gases

Abstract

Meso-macroporous α-Al2O3 was successfully prepared by using acid-treated carbon nanotube as mesoporous forming agent and polystyrene foam as the template for the macropore. A series of Ru/meso-macroporous α-Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness impregnation method and applied to the preferential oxidation of CO (CO-PROX) in H2-rich gases. SEM, N2 adsorption–desorption, H2-TPR techniques and TEM were employed to characterize the catalysts. The results indicate that the specific surface area was markedly elevated by introducing the mesopores, which led to the higher dispersion of ruthenium nanoparticles on the surface of α-Al2O3. The meso-macroporous α-Al2O3 supported ruthenium showed very high activity and selectivity for CO-PROX.