Additive effects of alkaline-earth metals and nickel on the performance of Co/gamma-Al(2)O(3) in methane catalytic partial oxidation

Abstract

Nano-sized gamma-alumina (gamma-Al(2)O(3)) was first prepared by a precipitation method. Then, active component of cobalt and a series of alkaline-earth metal promoters or nickel (Ni) with different contents were loaded on the gamma-Al(2)O(3) support. The catalysts were characterized by N(2) adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetry analysis (TGA). The activity and selectivity of the catalysts in catalytic partial oxidation (CPO) of methane have been compared with Co/-gamma-Al(2)O(3), and it is found that the catalytic activity, selectivity, and stability an; enhanced by the addition of alkaline-earth metals and nickel. The optimal loadings of strontium (Sr) and Ni were 6 and 4 wt%, respectively. This finding will be helpful in designing the trimetallic Co-Ni-Sr/-gamma-Al(2)O(3) catalysts with high performance in CPO of methane.