Effect of Preparation Conditions on the Stability of Pt/Al2O3 Catalysts in Methane Combustion

Alumina supported platinum catalysts were prepared by sol-gel method using aluminum-sec-butoxide, platinum acetylacetonate and sec-butanol. Various gelation process were performed either by the help of a gelation agent (water or acetic acid) or by a slow condensation without hydrolysis source. The textural and the structural study of the catalysts using the nitrogen physical adsorption and the hydrogen chemisorption showed that the BET surface area and the metal dispersion varied when the hydrolysis and the gelation processes were modified. The catalytic activities for methane combustion performed on the fresh and aged catalysts were correlated to the metal dispersion values. In addition the catalytic activity loss under reaction mixture seemed to be caused by the metal dispersion decrease. When the catalysts were aged under the reaction mixture at 600°C for 72 h, a BET surface area decrease and a metallic surface area loss were observed. The resistance to sintering observed to be dependant on the hydrolysis and the gelation processes was in favor of the catalyst prepared by acetic acid.