Methane partial oxidation on Pt/CeO2 and Pt/Al2O3 catalysts

Partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas over 0.5 wt.% Pt/Al2O3 and 0.5 wt.% Pt/CeO2 catalysts was studied in a packed-bed reactor and supplementary runs of methane reforming with carbon dioxide were carried out. Fresh and used catalysts were characterized by nitrogen adsorption (BET method) for total surface area, and by H-2 and CO chemisorption or by the rate of propene hydrogenation for metal surface area. At temperatures up to 650degreesC, the Pt/CeO2 catalyst gave considerably higher methane conversion and higher selectivity to CO and H-2 but above 700degreesC, the activities and selectivities of both catalysts were comparable. The Pt/CeO2 catalyst maintained high selectivity to CO and H-2 when the CH4:O-2 feed ratio varied from 1.7 to 2.3 while the Pt/Al2O3 catalyst had lower activity and selectivity under methane-rich conditions. The Pt/CeO2 catalyst was also more active for methane reforming by carbon dioxide. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.