Conventional Incipient Wetness Impregnation Research Articles

Flattened Pt clusters constructed on CeO2 for efficient selective oxidation of NH3

In the field of environmental catalysis, the effective elimination of pollutants with limited generation of harmful byproducts is a general requirement for environmental pollutant elimination catalysts. Recently, the efficient selective catalytic oxidation of NH3 (NH3-SCO) with high N2 selectivity has become a research hotspot. In this work, based on the understanding of the structure-activity relationship for Pt/CeO2 catalysts in NH3-SCO reaction, a novel flattened Pt cluster catalyst supported on CeO2 (FC-Pt/CeO2) was synthesized by the solution combustion method. In comparison to CeO2-supported bulky (three-dimensional) Pt cluster/particle catalyst prepared by the conventional incipient wetness impregnation method, flattened Pt clusters with more Pt-O-Ce structure could better facilitate the activation of adsorbed NH3 at low temperatures, thus achieving superior low temperature NH3 oxidation activity. It was also revealed that the NH3-SCO reaction on FC-Pt/CeO2 was proceeded by i-SCR pathway, in which NO generated by the deep oxidation of NH3 would react with adsorbed NH3 or -NH2/-NH. This work provided new insights into constructing robust cluster catalysts from an aspect of cluster shape control, which would significantly benefit the environmental catalysis community.

La-supported SnO2–CaO composite catalysts for efficient malachite green degradation under UV–vis light

This study presents the development and optimization of La@SnO2–CaO composite catalysts for efficient photocatalytic degradation of malachite green dye in aqueous solutions under UV–vis light irradiation. The catalysts were prepared via conventional incipient-wetness impregnation and thoroughly characterized using advanced analytical techniques, including X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, N2 adsorption–desorption analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. To optimize photodegradation efficiency, the effects of three independent factors were systematically investigated using response surface methodology: Temperature, pH, and Sn/Ca molar ratio. Our results reveal optimal conditions for maximum dye degradation: pH 7, Sn/Ca molar ratio of 0.33, and a process time of 35 min, resulting in a maximum photodegradation efficiency of 98.80% for malachite green dye. Notably, visible light exhibited a more pronounced effect on dye degradation compared to UV light over time, with visible light achieving 25% greater dye removal after 60 min of illumination. Furthermore, the catalyst showed excellent recyclability, retaining 85% of its initial activity after five consecutive cycles. These findings contribute significantly to the development of sustainable methods for dye removal from wastewater and highlight the potential of La@SnO2–CaO composite catalysts in environmental remediation processes, particularly in treating textile industry effluents.

Fabrication of Highly Dispersed Ru Catalysts on CeO2 for Efficient C3H6 Oxidation.

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) threaten both the environment and human health. To realize the elimination of VOCs, Ru/CeO2 catalysts have been intensively investigated and applied. Although it has been widely acknowledged that the catalytic performance of platinum group metal catalysts was highly determined by their dispersion and coordination environment, the most reactive structures on Ru/CeO2 catalysts for VOCs oxidation are still ambiguous. In this work, starting from Ce-BTC (BTC = 1,3,5-benzenetricarboxylic acid) materials, atomically dispersed Ru catalysts and agglomerated Ru catalysts were successfully created via one-step hydrothermal method (Ru-CeO2-BTC) and conventional incipient wetness impregnation method (Ru/CeO2-BTC), respectively. In a typical model reaction of C3H6 oxidation, atomically dispersed Ruδ+ species with the formation of abundant Ru-O-Ce linkages on Ru-CeO2-BTC were found to perform much better than agglomerated RuOx species on Ru/CeO2-BTC. Further characterizations and mechanism study disclosed that Ru-CeO2-BTC catalyst with atomically dispersed Ru ions and more superior low temperature redox performance compared to Ru/CeO2-BTC could better facilitate the adsorption/activation of C3H6 and the decomposition/desorption of intermediates, thus exhibiting superior C3H6 oxidation activity. This work elucidated the reactive sites on Ru/CeO2 catalysts in the C3H6 oxidation reaction and provided insightful guidance for designing efficient Ru/CeO2 catalysts to eliminate VOCs.

Tri‐reforming of Methane over a Hydroxyapatite Supported Nickel Catalyst

AbstractFor the first time, a catalyst containing 5 wt. % Ni supported on a hydroxyapatite support (HAP) has been synthesized and evaluated in tri‐reforming of methane (TRM) for synthetic gas (syngas) production. Nickel nanoparticles could be easily formed on HAP surface by using the conventional incipient wetness impregnation technique. In TRM, under unfavorable reaction conditions from the thermodynamic point of view (e. g. medium reforming temperature of 700–800 °C, low steam‐to‐carbon ratio, etc.), this catalyst showed high methane conversion (up to 90 %), however, some deactivations took place. The latter could be explained by both the thermal sintering of nickel nanoparticles and the solid carbon formation. The impact of the main operational parameters has been studied. Increasing the reaction temperature, the molar ratios of oxygen‐to‐carbon and steam‐to‐carbon are favorable for the methane conversion and mostly for the stability of the catalyst. High methane conversion of ca. 90 % with a perfect catalytic stability during 300 hours‐on‐stream could be achieved at 800 °C and 1.4 bar, using a mixture containing low ratio of oxidant‐to‐carbon (molar ratio of CH4/CO2/H2O/O2/N2=1.0/0.67/0.9/0.1/0). These results offer the opportunity to further design an optimal Ni/HAP catalyst by improving metal‐support interaction and downsizing nickel nanoparticles.

Boosting the selective hydrogenation of biphenyl to cyclohexylbenzene over bimetallic Ni-Ru/SiO2 catalyst via enhancing strong metal-support interaction

Tuning the metal-support interaction (MSI) between highly dispersed nanosized metal particles and the support plays a pivotal role in the activity and selectivity of polyaromatics selective hydrogenation. In this work, the supported bimetallic Ni-Ru/SiO2-SEA catalyst was prepared by a strong electrostatic adsorption (SEA) strategy, and applied for the selective hydrogenation of biphenyl (BP) to cyclohexylbenzene (CHB). Compared to the catalysts prepared by the conventional incipient wetness impregnation method and Ni/SiO2-SEA, the significant effects of MSI and hydrogen spillover on Ni-Ru/SiO2-SEA facilitated the highly exposed and uniformly dispersed electron-deficient Niδ+ (0 < δ < 2) species, which could enhance adsorption and activation of the electron-withdrawing phenyl group and H2, thereby promoting the efficient and selective conversion of BP to CHB. At the conditions of 160 ℃ and 2 MPa H2 pressure, BP conversion over Ni-Ru/SiO2-SEA reached nearly 100 % within 3 h, achieving a remarkable selectivity of 97.9 % towards CHB, along with a high turnover frequency of 2756.9 h−1 for the active metallic Ni sites. Importantly, according to the kinetic simulations, the hydrogenation rate constant of Ni-Ru/SiO2-SEA was the highest (2.76 × 10-2 mol·g−1·h−1) among the employed catalysts. Moreover, after six consecutive cycles, no obvious decline in hydrogenation efficiency was observed, confirming the remarkable activity and stability of Ni-Ru/SiO2-SEA. Furthermore, the activation of BP and desorption of CHB pathway on the Niδ+ species were elaborated through temperature-programmed desorption characterization, highlighting the prominent contribution of MSI in enhancing the selective hydrogenation of polyaromatics.

Highly efficient Ni/Ac-Al2O3 catalysts in the dry reforming of methane: influence of acetic acid treatment and Ni loading.

The presence of abundant hydroxyl groups on the surface of Al2O3 can promote the dispersion of Ni species but produce an inactive NiAl2O4 phase at high temperatures. Moreover, the catalysts prepared by the conventional incipient wetness impregnation method lack the sites for the activation of CO2, which leads to coke deposition and thus affects the catalyst activity. The above restricts the utilization of Ni in conventional Ni/Al2O3 catalysts. In this paper, Al2O3 support was pre-treated by acetic acid to selectively remove hydroxyl groups without affecting the coordination environment of Al. Results revealed that the Al2O3 support after hydroxyl removal not only showed moderate metal-support interaction but also produced more sites for the adsorption and activation of the reactant, which significantly improves the utilization of nickel species and the stability of the catalyst. The conversion of CH4 and CO2 at 700 °C was as high as 88% and 90%, respectively, and has an excellent stability of 50 h. This study provides a feasible strategy for the design of highly active methane dry-reforming catalysts.

Catalytic partial oxidation of methane over bimetallic Ru–Ni supported on CeO2 for syngas production

Methane (CH4) is the second most abundant greenhouse gas (GHG) after carbon dioxide (CO2) and is widely recognized as one of the most destructive GHGs, exerting negative impacts on the Earth's atmosphere. In order to effectively reduce CH4 emissions, the conversion of methane into synthesis gas, which is a mixture of hydrogen (H2) and carbon monoxide (CO), has emerged as an appealing approach. Recent advancements have demonstrated that catalytic partial oxidation of methane (POM) holds great promise as a reaction pathway for syngas production. Here we study a series of catalysts consisting of monometallic Ru and Ni, and bimetallic Ru–Ni supported on CeO2. These catalysts were synthesized using both mechanochemical and conventional incipient wetness impregnation methods. Various preparation parameters were investigated, including the Ru:Ni metal ratio, the order of metal addition, and the milling energy and time for the mechanochemically prepared samples. The catalysts were subjected to low-temperature POM (350–600 °C) experiments to evaluate their performance. The experimental results reveal that the bimetallic Ru–Ni/CeO2 catalysts exhibit superior catalytic activity and stability compared to the monometallic Ru–CeO2 and Ni–CeO2 catalysts. Notably, the bimetallic Ru–Ni/CeO2 catalysts prepared through ball milling demonstrate a significantly lower temperature requirement for syngas production compared to the conventional catalysts prepared via incipient wetness impregnation.

Mechanochemically activated Au/CeO2 for enhanced CO oxidation and COPrOx reaction

COPrOx reaction is one of the particularly appealing and cost-effective solutions for the selective oxidation of CO in hydrogen-rich gas streams to meet the stringent requirement of the current electrocatalysts employed in low-temperature fuel cells. Herein, we synthesized ultrasmall Au clusters supported on ceria by one-step solvent-free mechanochemical method. These catalysts exhibited higher activity for COPrOx and CO oxidation compared to the sample prepared by conventional incipient wetness impregnation. The unique Au-Ce interaction caused by impact and friction between the ball, vessel, and powders, greatly promotes the generation of positive charged Auδ+ active sites and, at the same time, the reducibility of the catalyst. Interestingly, an aging treatment of the ball-milled samples resulted in a significant superior performance of the catalytic activity. This enhancement has been attributed to a change in the oxidation state of Au between the fresh and the aged catalysts prepared by ball milling.

Synthesis of Ruthenium-Promoted ZnO/SBA-15 Composites for Enhanced Photocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue Dye

Synthetic organic pigments like xanthene and azo dyes from the direct discharge of textile effluents are considered colossal global issues and attract the concern of scholars. Photocatalysis continues to be a very valuable pollution control method for industrial wastewater. Incorporations of metal oxide catalysts such as zinc oxide (ZnO) on mesoporous Santa Barbara Armophous-15 (SBA-15) support to improve catalyst thermo-mechanical stability have been comprehensively reported. However, charge separation efficiency and light absorption of ZnO/SBA-15 continue to be limiting its photocatalytic activity. Herein, we report a successful preparation of Ruthenium-induced ZnO/SBA-15 composite via conventional incipient wetness impregnation technique with the aim of boosting the photocatalytic activity of the incorporated ZnO. Physicochemical properties of the SBA-15 support, ZnO/SBA-15, and Ru-ZnO/SBA-15 composites were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 physisorption isotherms at 77 K, Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The characterization outcomes exhibited that ZnO and ruthenium species have been successfully embedded into SBA-15 support, andtheSBA-15 support maintains its structured hexagonal mesoscopic ordering in both ZnO/SBA-15 and Ru-ZnO/SBA-15 composites. The photocatalytic activity of the composite was assessed through photo-assisted mineralization of aqueous MB solution, and the process was optimized for initial dye concentration and catalyst dosage. 50 mg catalyst exhibited significant degradation efficiency of 97.96% after 120 min, surpassing the efficiencies of 77% and 81% displayed by 10 and 30 mg of the as-synthesized catalyst. The photodegradation rate was found to decrease with an increase in the initial dye concentration. The superior photocatalytic activity of Ru-ZnO/SBA-15 over the binary ZnO/SBA-15 may be attributed to the slower recombination rate of photogenerated charges on the ZnO surface with the addition of ruthenium.

Preparation of highly dispersed SnO/TiO2 catalysts and their performances in catalyzing polyol ester.

A series of stannous oxide supported on rutile titanium dioxide (SnO/TiO2) were prepared by a conventional incipient wetness impregnation method, and their performance as catalysts for fatty acid esterification reactions was investigated. The effects of Sn precursors (SnCl2·2H2O or SnC2O4), loading amounts (5-15%), and treating ambiences (air and N2) were explored. The optimized 10% SnO/TiO2-Cl with SnCl2·2H2O as the Sn precursor and thermal treatment in N2 showed the best esterification performance. Specifically, 10% SnO/TiO2-Cl catalyzed the esterification process of trimethylolpropane and n-octanoic acid with a conversion of 99.6% over 5 h at 160 °C, and 10% SnO/TiO2-Cl was efficient for six catalytic cycles. Based on the results of X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectra, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), infrared spectra of pyridine adsorption (Py-IR), and ammonia temperature programmed desorption (NH3-TPD), the improved catalytic performance is supposed to be attributable to the high dispersion of the Sn species on 10% SnO/TiO2-Cl as the moderate Lewis acid sites.

Operando NAP-XPS Studies of a Ceria-Supported Pd Catalyst for CO Oxidation

Supported Pd/CeO2 catalytic systems have been widely investigated in the low-temperature oxidation of CO (LTO CO) due to the unique oxygen storage capacity and redox properties of the ceria support, which highly influence the structural, chemical and electronic state of Pd species. Herein, operando near-ambient pressure XPS (NAP-XPS) technique has allowed the study of a conventional Pd/CeO2 catalyst surface during the CO oxidation reaction under experimental conditions closer to the actual catalytic reaction, unfeasible with other surface science techniques that demand UHV conditions. SEM, HRTEM and XRD analyses of the powder catalyst, prepared by conventional incipient wetness impregnation, reveal uniformly CeO2-loaded Pd NPs of less than 2 nm size, which generated an increase in oxygen vacancies with concomitant ceria reduction, as indicated by H2-TPR and Raman measurements. Adsorbed peroxide (O22−) species on the catalyst surface could also be detected by Raman spectra. Operando NAP-XPS results obtained at the ALBA Synchrotron Light Source revealed two kinds of Pd species under reaction conditions, namely PdOx and PdII ions in a PdxCe1−xO2−δ solution, the latter one appearing to be crucial for the CO oxidation. By means of a non-destructive depth profile analysis using variable synchrotron excitation energies, the location and the role of these palladium species in the CO oxidation reaction could be clarified: PdOx was found to prevail on the upper surface layers of the metallic Pd supported NPs under CO, while under reaction mixture it was rapidly depleted from the surface, leaving a greater amount in the subsurface layers (7% vs. 12%, respectively). On the contrary, the PdxCe1−xO2−δ phase, which was created at the Pd–CeO2 interface in contact with the gas environment, appeared to be predominant on the surface of the catalyst. Its presence was crucial for CO oxidation evolution, acting as a route through which active oxygen species could be transferred from ceria to Pd species for CO oxidation.

Bimetallic Ru–Pd supported on CeO2 for the catalytic partial oxidation of methane into syngas

A series of monometallic Ru, Pd, and bimetallic Ru–Pd catalysts loaded on CeO2 support have been prepared via mechanochemical and conventional incipient wetness impregnation methods and used in the partial oxidation of methane (POM) to obtain synthesis gas (H2 and CO). The influence of the preparation method, the order of addition of the metals, the Ru:Pd metal ratio, and the milling energy and time for samples prepared by the mechanochemical method, have been evaluated between 300 and 600 °C. The results revealed that bimetallic Ru–Pd/CeO2 catalysts outperform monometallic Ru–CeO2 and Pd–CeO2 for POM, both in terms of catalytic activity and stability. Additionally, the bimetallic Ru–Pd/CeO2 catalysts prepared by ball milling produced syngas at a much lower temperature compared to the conventional catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. Raman spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction (H2–TPR), X–ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and high–resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) have been used to characterize the catalysts before and after reaction.

Low-temperature partial oxidation of methane over Pd–Ni bimetallic catalysts supported on CeO2

Monometallic Pd and Ni and bimetallic Pd–Ni catalysts supported on CeO2 are prepared via mechanochemical and conventional incipient wetness impregnation methods and tested for the production of syngas by the partial oxidation of methane. Compared with monometallic Ni/CeO2 and Pd/CeO2, bimetallic Pd–Ni/CeO2 catalysts show considerable higher methane conversion and syngas yield. Additionally, the bimetallic catalysts prepared by ball milling produce syngas at lower temperature. Different preparation parameters, such as metal loading, Pd/Ni ratio, milling energy, milling time and order of incorporation of the metals are examined. The best performance is obtained with a bimetallic catalyst prepared at 50 Hz for 20 min with only 0.12 wt% Pd and 1.38 wt% Ni. Stability tests demonstrate superior stability for bimetallic Pd–Ni/CeO2 catalysts prepared by a mechanochemical approach. From the characterization results, this is explained in terms of an impressive dispersion of metal species with a strong interaction with the surface of CeO2.

Size effects on the formation of LaAlO3 phase in La-doped γ-Al2O3 after hydrothermal treatment

A series of La-doped alumina ceramics were prepared by a strong electrostatic adsorption technique in comparison with a conventional incipient wetness impregnation method. The commercial La-doped alumina support was used as a reference sample. The samples were calcined in a temperature range of 800–1200 °C. The characterization of the ceramics was performed using low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction analysis, and photoluminescence. A strong electrostatic interaction between alumina and lanthanum was found to affect the stabilization of alumina and the resistance of La2O3 towards agglomeration during the wet procedures. The size effects related to the formation of LaAlO3 of ∼10 nm in size from the amorphous oxide phase take place on the surface of alumina doped with lanthanum. In cases of the commercial La-modified alumina sample and the sample prepared by wetness impregnation with lanthanum nitrate, the hydrothermal treatment under mild conditions has two effects. Firstly, the La2O3 particles weakly bonded with the support grow in size. Secondly, the high-temperature calcination of the samples leads to the formation of the LaAlO3 phase. Oppositely, the samples prepared by the adsorption of La(EDTA)- complexes showed no formation of the LaAlO3 phase neither before nor after the hydrothermal treatment procedure. The key factor accelerating the dissolution of the La2O3 particles was found to be the regime of the suspension stirring.

Facile synthesis of palladium incorporated NiCo2O4 spinel for low temperature methane combustion: Activate lattice oxygen to promote activity

While palladium-based catalysts are effective in low-temperature methane combustion, their high cost and scarcity render them unsuitable to fulfil the growing demand. The design of improved catalysts which can more efficiently utilize this precious metal is required. Here, by using a facile one-pot thermal decomposition method Pd-NiCo2O4 spinel catalysts with a unique structure are obtained, in which the majority of Pd incorporated into the bulk spinel structure of NiCo2O4 with limited highly dispersed PdOx species on the surface at an atomic scale. The robust 1 %Pd-NiCo2O4 spinel catalyst exhibits comparable activity in methane oxidation to that of the conventional incipient wetness impregnation 2 %Pd/NiCo2O4. Theoretical calculations and catalyst characterizations (SEM, HRTEM, XRD, XPS, XAS, ICP-OES, etc.) revealed that the enhanced activity is mainly originated from having the O p-band center closer to the Fermi level, with Pd ions incorporated into the bulk NiCo2O4via substituting for the octahedral coordinated Ni3+/Co3+.

Well-Dispersed MgAl2O4 Supported Ni Catalyst with Enhanced Catalytic Performance and the Reason of Its Deactivation for Long-Term Dry Methanation Reaction

Dry methanation of syngas is a promising route for synthetic natural gas production because of its water and cost saving characteristics, as we reported previously. Here, we report a simple soaking process for the preparation of well-dispersed Ni/MgAl2O4-E catalyst with an average Ni size of 6.4 nm. The catalytic test results showed that the Ni/MgAl2O4-E catalyst exhibited considerably higher activity and better stability than Ni/MgAl2O4-W catalyst prepared by conventional incipient wetness impregnation method in dry methanation reaction. The long-term stability test result of 335 h has demonstrated that the deactivation of the Ni/MgAl2O4-E catalyst is inevitable. With multiple characterization techniques including ICP, EDS, XRD, STEM, TEM, SEM and TG, we reveal that the graphitic carbon encapsulating Ni nanoparticles are the major reasons responsible for catalyst deactivation, and the rate of carbon deposition decreases with reaction time.

Pt/TS-1 catalysts: Effect of the platinum loading method on the dehydrogenation of n-butane

A series of catalysts in which platinum was supported on the crystalline pure titanium silicalite (TS-1) were prepared using two different loading methods, namely, an ethylene glycol (EG) reduction method and the conventional incipient wetness impregnation (IM) technique. Various characterization techniques were used to study the effect of the loading method on the physicochemical and morphological properties of the prepared catalysts. Also the effect of the platinum-loading method on the dehydrogenation of n-butane was investigated in a fixed-bed reactor. The results show that the EG method favors the formation of a more-concentrated Pt dispersion, which results in much better catalytic activities for the selective formation of butenes and butadiene (> 97 %). This phenomenon is interpreted by carrying out density functional theory (DFT) calculations with focus on the relationship between the coverage of n-butane on Pt surface and the activation barrier for the first CH bond cleavage.

Pd/SAPO-41 Bifunctional Catalysts with Enhanced Pd Dispersion Prepared by Ultrasonic-Assisted Impregnation: High Selectivity for n-Hexadecane Hydroisomerization

The preparation of bifunctional catalysts with high catalytic selectivity for the n-alkanes hydroisomerization still remains challenging for the production of bio-diesel. Herein, two series of Pd/SAPO-41 bifunctional catalysts are prepared by the ultrasonic-assisted impregnation (xPd/S41-U) with different treating time and conventional incipient wetness impregnation methods (0.30Pd/S41-I) on the SAPO-41 molecular sieve, respectively. The physico-chemical property of the synthesized SAPO-41 and prepared catalysts were studied by XRD, SEM, ICP, N2 physical adsorption, H2 chemisorption and Py-IR measurements. The catalytic performance for the n-hexadecane hydroisomerization over all catalysts is also studied. The characteristic results indicate that the xPd/S41-U catalysts show stronger Bronsted acidity compared with the 0.30Pd/S41-I catalyst. In addition, the Pd dispersion of the xPd/S41-U catalysts is almost two times higher than that of the 0.30Pd/S41-I catalyst, which leads more Pd cluster to enter into the micropores of the SAPO-41 molecular sieve. Furthermore, the 0.30Pd/S41-U catalyst with 0.30 wt % Pd loading shows promoted catalytic performance than that of the 0.30Pd/S41-I catalyst with the same Pd loading because of the stronger metal function and more favourable metal-acid balance caused by the larger CPd/CH+ ratio. Therefore, the ultrasonic-assisted impregnation prepared Pd/SAPO-41 catalysts are potential to be widely employed for the n-alkane hydroisomerization.

Hydroxyapatite as a new support material for cobalt-based catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Hydroxyapatite [HAP, (Ca10(PO4)6(OH)2)] is an emerging catalytic support possessing exciting features such as high thermal and mechanical strength, chemically stable with low water solubility along with tunable porosity and acid-basic character. Despite of these interesting characteristics, it has not yet been investigated in Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. Herein, for the first time, HAP-supported cobalt catalysts (Co/HAP) prepared by conventional incipient wetness impregnation method were examined in the FT synthesis process. The catalytic performance of these catalysts was compared with alumina-supported cobalt catalysts (Co/Alumina). HAP support was found to exhibit considerably less acid-site density, consequently, reducing detrimental interactions of the support with cobalt precursors leading to hardly reducible Co species that are generally observed with its alumina counterpart. Co/HAP catalysts exhibit relatively larger Co particle sizes (~9 nm versus ~6 nm, as observed from TEM analysis) and better Co reducibility when compared to its counterparts on alumina. FT synthesis at 20 bar, 220 °C and H2/CO = 2.1 showed that the CO conversion was higher on the catalysts (10 wt% Co loading) using HAP as a support material when compared to alumina. Under different testing conditions (220 or 230 °C) using the Co/HAP catalyst, the C5+ selectivity was in the range of 82–88%, whereas the methane selectivity was about ~10%.

Pt/SAPO-11 Catalysts: Effect of Platinum Loading Method on the Hydroisomerization of n-Hexadecane

A series of platinum were supported on a crystalline pure SAPO-11 by different loading methods; ethylene glycol reduction (EG) method and conventional incipient wetness impregnation (IM) technique. Effects of loading method and amount of platinum on the hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane in fixed bed-reactor were investigated. N2 ad/desorption, XRD, NH3-TPD, H2-chemisorption and FE-SEM techniques were employed to study the effects of different preparation methods on the physicochemical and morphological characterization of the prepared samples. The results suggest that the Pt metal particles on the catalyst prepared by (IM) method can be located near the micropore mouth of SAPO-11 support, while the Pt sites on the catalyst prepared by EG method mainly located on the external surface. The 5 wt% Pt (EG)/SAPO-11 catalyst exhibited the best isomerization activity and yield at smaller reaction temperature (300 °C) in the hydroisomerization of n-hexadecane, which is attributed to preferential location of Pt metal particles as it was assessed that the (de)hydrogenation activity function operated by Pt metal particles is a limiting step in the catalytic performance towards improving the isomerization activity of Pt/SAPO-11 catalysts prepared by different methods.