Direct gas-phase epoxidation of propylene to propylene oxide using air as oxidant on supported gold catalyst

Gold catalysts supported on SiO2, TiO2, TiO2-SiO2, and ZrO2-SiO2 supports were prepared by impregnating each support with a basic solution of tetrachloroauric acid. X-ray diffraction （XRD）, transmission electron microscopy （TEM）, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS） techniques were used to characterize their structure and surface composition. The results indicated that the size of gold particles could be controlled to below 10 nm by this method of preparation. Washing gold catalysts with water could markedly enhance the dispersion of metallic gold particles on the surface, but it could not completely remove the chloride ions left on the surface. The catalytic performance of direct vapor-phase epoxidation of propylene using air as an oxidant over these catalysts was evaluated at atmospheric pressure. The selectivity to propylene oxide （PO） was found to vary with reaction time on the stream. At the reaction conditions of atmosphere pressure, temperature 325 ℃, feed gas ratio V（C3H6）/V（O2）= 1/2, and GHSV =6000h^-1, 17.9% PO selectivity with 0.9% propylene conversion were obtained at initial 10 min for Au/SiO2 catalyst. After reacting 60 min only 8.9% PO selectivity were detected, but the propylene conversion rises to 1.4% and the main product is transferred to acrolein （72% selectivity）. Washing Au/TiO2-SiO2 and Aa/ZrO2-SiO2 samples with magnesium citrate solution could markedly enhance the activity and PO selectivity because smaller gold particles were obtained.

Improvement of low temperature activity and stability of Ni catalysts with addition of Pt for hydrogen production via steam reforming of ethylene glycol

Hydrogen production by steam reforming of ethylene glycol(EG) at 300℃ was investigated over SiO2 and CeO2 supported Pt–Ni bimetallic catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation methods. It was observed that impregnation sequence of Pt and Ni can affect the performance of catalysts apparently. Catalyst with Pt first and then Ni addition showed higher EG conversion and H2 yield owing to the Ni enrichment on the surface and the proper interaction between Pt and Ni. It was observed that although SiO2 supported catalysts exhibited better activity and H2 selectivity, CeO2 supported ones had better stability. This is attributed to the less coke formation on CeO2. Increasing Pt/Ni ratio enhanced the reaction activity, and Pt3–Ni7 catalysts with 3 wt% Pt and 7 wt% Ni showed the highest activity and stability. Ni surficial enrichment facilitated the C-C bond rupture and water gas shift reactions;and Pt addition inhibited methanation reaction. Electron transfer and hydrogen spillover from Pt to Ni suppressed carbon deposition. These combined effects lead to the excellent performance of Pt3–Ni7 supported catalysts.

Effects of preparation conditions of Au/FeO_x /Al_2O_3 catalysts prepared by a modified two-step method on the stability for CO oxidation

Composite oxide FeO x /Al 2 O 3 -supported gold catalysts were prepared by a modified two-step method. The effects of preparation conditions on the initial catalytic activity and long-time stability were studied for CO oxidation. XRD, XPS and in situ FTIR were employed to investigate the state of FeO x and the species on the catalyst surface. The results showed that Au/FeO x /Al 2 O 3 catalysts prepared by this method exhibited high activity and high stability in a wide pH value range. Calcination pretreatment was proved to be beneficial to improving the activity and stability. The beneficial effects of FeO x acting as a structural promoter could be ascribed to the ability to supply active oxygen species. As the precursor of FeO x , Fe（NO 3 ） 3 is superior to FeCl 3 for obtaining higher stability.

Study on Au/Al_2O_3 catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation in situ FT-IR

Au/Al2O3 catalyst was prepared by a modified anion impregnation method and investigated with respect to its initial activity and stability for low-temperature CO oxidation.The activity changes of the catalyst were examined after separate treatment in CO＋O2 or CO2 ＋O2 .Furthermore,in situ FT-IR studies were performed to investigate the species on the surface when CO or CO＋O2 or CO2 ＋O2 was selected separately as adsorption gas.The results showed that Au/Al2O3 catalyst exhibited very high initial activity,but the catalytic activity was found to decrease gradually during CO oxidation with time on stream.And also,the activity of the catalyst declined after treatment in CO＋O2 or CO2 ＋O2 .The formation and accumulation of carbonate-like species during CO oxidation or treatment in CO＋O2 or CO2 ＋O2 might be mainly responsible for the activity decrease,which was reversible.