PROPANE STEAM REFORMING OVER ALUMINA SUPPORTED RH CATALYSTS: INFLUENCE OF CERIA AND NICKEL ADDITION

摘要

The influence of ceria and nickel addition on alumina supported Rh catalyst for steam reforming of propane has been studied. With the addition of ceria and nickel, the catalytic activity of Rh catalyst for propane reforming can be greatly improved. TPR characterizations show that adding ceria makes rhodium oxide (Rh2O3) easier to reduce, while the addition of Ni makes Rh2O3 more difficult to reduce. Kinetic study shows that a Langmuir-Hinshelwood (L-H) mechanism could be applied to the propane steam reforming over Rh- based catalysts. According to L-H mechanism, the addition of ceria and Ni can greatly increase the propane reforming rate, probably via lowering the activation energy and enhancing the propane and steam adsorption.