Partial oxidation of methane over Pt-Ru bimetallic catalyst for syngas production

A bimetallic catalyst (Pt-Ru 50/50) has been prepared for methane partial oxidation. Total metal load was 1 wt%. The support was alumina mixed with 25 wt% of a ceria-zirconia mixture. This because of the good performances of alumina for such applications and to exploit the oxygen buffer effect of the ceriazirconia system. The catalyst has been prepared by incipient wetness and characterized by means of XRD, BET surface area, TPR/TPO and SEM-EDS analyses. It showed good activity and high selectivity towards CO and H-2, produced in a ratio suitable for Fisher-Tropsch applications. The effect of spatial velocity (GHSV) has been investigated; ramping temperature up and down, some hysteresis has been evidenced, especially at the highest GHSV, mainly caused by thermal effects. Overall, 100% conversion of methane to H-2 and CO at the appropriate syngas ratio (2/1) can achieved easily and with stability. (C) 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.