Spillover of oxygen species in the steam reforming of propane on ceria-containing catalysts

Several binds of experiments were carried out to show that oxygen species (OH, O) can be transferred from a Rh/Al2O3 (RhA) catalyst to pure oxides and vice-versa. Ceria physically mixed with RhA increases the catalytic activity of the Rh catalyst for the steam reforming of propane. Conversely, RhA can promote the exchange of (18)O2 with the O-16 Of pure oxides, normally inactive for the O-18/O-16 exchange in the absence of RhA. Moreover, large amounts of steam reforming products (Hz, CO) were obtained by injecting pulses of pure propane over a PtRh/CeO2/Al2O3 catalyst. OH groups stored on the support migrate to the metal particles where the reaction with CHx fragments (issued from the C3H8 activation) can occur.