ALUMINA AEROGEL FOR SUPPORT OF A METHANE COMBUSTION CATALYST

Catalytic metal (platinum or palladium 1 wt.-%)-supported alumina aerogels were prepared. The platinum (or palladium) -supported alumina aerogel catalyst was tested for methane combustion. The activities of platinum-supported alumina aerogel and commercial gamma-alumina prepared by the conventional dipping method were similar, palladium-supported alumina aerogel showed higher activity than palladium-supported commercial gamma-alumina. This difference in activity became larger after treatment at 1200-degrees-C for 100 h. However, the specific surface area and pore-size distribution of the alumina aerogel was similar to commercial alumina after treatment. Palladium (1 wt.-%)-supported silica (10 mol-%)-alumina aerogel, which retains a higher specific surface area than alumina aerogel after treatment, was also prepared and its catalytic activity was measured. It showed better activity at low temperatures than the palladium-supported alumina aerogel. Completion of the reaction was not as good as with alumina aerogel. This was due to the difference in the electron state of palladium on the surface of each support.