INSITU STUDY OF REDUCTION OF COPPER-CATALYSTS

Isothermal hydrogen interaction with unsupported CuO and 15%CuO/ZnO at about 419-427 K has been followed by in-situ X-ray diffraction as monoclinic CuO is replaced by zero-valent Cu° without direct evidence of formation of intermediate Cu2O. Surprisingly, less than half of the copper phases within such samples is X-ray detectable. X-ray analysis indicates that reduction of crystalline CuO in CuO/ZnO catalysts may not be retarded by ZnO, but TPR-TGA suggests that reduction of more amorphous CuO may be so retarded. © 1990 J.C. Baltzer A.G. Scientific Publishing Company.