Effect of Cu promoter on Ni-based SBA-15 catalysts for partial oxidation of methane to syngas

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with 5wt% to 15wt% Ni content as well as a series of 12.5%Ni/Cu/SBA-15 catalysts with 1% to 10% coppercontent were prepared by the impregnation method. The catalytic performance for partial oxidation of methane was investigated in a continuousflow microreactor under atmospheric pressure. The textural and chemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, BETand H2-TPR techniques. The results indicated that the catalysts modified with Cu promoter showed better performance than those withoutmodification. For the 12.5%Ni/2.5%/Cu/SBA-15 catalyst, at 850 ◦C the conversion of CH4 reached 97.9% and the selectivity of CO andH2 reached 98.0% and 96.0%, respectively. In XRD patterns of the Ni/Cu/SBA-15 catalyst with 7.5 to 10% Cu contents there were CuOcharacteristic peaks beside NiO characteristic peaks. The mesoporous structure of SBA-15 was retained in all of the catalysts. TPR analysisof the catalysts revealed that a strong interaction between Ni, Cu promoter and SBA-15 support may be existed. This interaction enhancedsignificantly the redox properties of the catalysts resulting in the higher catalytic activity.