IR Ni Lanthana
IR Ni Lanthana
IR Ni Lanthana
com
Abstract
The effect of aluminum addition on the properties of lanthanum oxide was investigated in order to find new supports for catalytic purposes. Pure
lanthanum oxide and aluminum-loaded lanthanum oxide were prepared by precipitation techniques and impregnation with nickel salt. The
supports and the catalysts were characterized by several techniques and the catalysts were evaluated in methane steam reforming, an important
commercial route to produce high purity hydrogen. The results showed that aluminum changed the properties of lanthana-supported nickel
catalysts improving the activity in methane steam reforming and the selectivity to hydrogen. The aluminum-free catalyst showed low activity since
the first hours of reaction. On the other hand, the aluminum-loaded catalyst showed high activity and selectivity to hydrogen, which increased even
more during reaction. This finding can be explained in terms of the production of metallic nickel, from the nickel compounds in strong interaction
with the support. Therefore, the most promising catalyst was the aluminum-loaded lanthana, which showed high activity, selectivity to hydrogen
and stability under reaction conditions.
# 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
The methane steam reforming is the main commercial CH4 H2 O @ CO 3H2 DH 298 206:0 kJ mol1 (1)
route for producing hydrogen and synthesis gas (CO + H2),
CO H2 O @ CO2 H2 DH 298 41:2 kJ mol1 (2)
important raw materials in several processes like ammonia
and methanol synthesis, as well as in various petrochemical The methane steam reforming (MSR) is highly endothermic,
processes [1]. The synthesis gas (syngas) is also widely therefore being favored by high temperature conditions. For
used in the FischerTropsch reaction that consumes about this reason, the processes are industrially performed at 800 8C,
60% of its production worldwide. On the other hand, pressure higher than 20 bar and a water-to-methane molar ratio
methane steam reforming produces 50% of the high purity in the range of 2.53.0 [2]. These severe operation conditions
hydrogen consumed all over the world, although this product lead to several problems and determine the stability of the
can be also produced from naphtha steam reforming, from catalyst, which is mainly related to coke deposition [47].
coal or from the electrolysis of the methane-based feeds Under these process conditions, coke is mainly produced by
[2,3]. reactions shown by Eqs. (4) and (7).
In the steam reforming, light hydrocarbons react with steam,
CH4 ! C H2 (4)
producing syngas (Eq. (1)), a process generally followed by
2CO ! C CO2 (5)
CO H2 ! C H2 O (6)
* Corresponding author.
E-mail address: mcarmov@ufba.br (M.C. Rangel). Cn H2n 2 ! nC n 1H2 (7)
0920-5861/$ see front matter # 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
doi:10.1016/j.cattod.2007.12.065
926 S.P. de Lima et al. / Catalysis Today 133135 (2008) 925930
In order to overcome the problem of coke deposition in the 2.2. Catalyst characterization
MSR, a tremendous body of work has been carried out, since
the first commercial process operation. For many years The supports and precursors were characterized by
nickel has been recognized as the most suitable catalyst thermogravimetry, differential thermal analysis, Fourier trans-
for this process. Other metals such as rhodium, platinum, form infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray diffraction and
ruthenium and cobalt show high stability and selectivity specific surface area measurements. The catalysts were
towards hydrogen, especially rhodium which was also the characterized by temperature-programmed reduction, energy
most stable one [3,4]. The nickel-based catalysts usually dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared
show high activity and selectivity, but deactivate with time spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, specific surface area measure-
due to sintering and to coke deposition on the solid surface, ments and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The spent
that blocks the pores, impairing the reagents access to the catalysts were characterized by specific surface area measure-
active sites [7,8]. In this case, carbon is dissolved into the ments, X-ray diffraction, XPS and carbon measurements.
metal and diffuses through the metalsupport interface, Thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis
producing filaments that move the nickel particles away (DTA) were performed using a Mettler-Toledo model SDTA
from the catalysts, causing the loss of the active phase of 851 equipment. The samples (0.015 g) were heated from room
the steam reforming [9]. The noble metals are not able to temperature up to 1000 8C, at a rate of 10 8C min1, under air
dissolve carbon and then filamentous carbon is not produced flow (50 mL min1). The elemental analysis of the catalysts
[10,11]. In spite of these drawbacks, nickel is much cheaper was carried out by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy using
than noble metals and thus is the only metal considered for a Shimadzu model EDX 700HS instrument in helium atmo-
industrial applications [12]. sphere.
In industrial processes, coke deposition is controlled X-ray diffraction patterns were recorded at room tempera-
by adding an excess of steam to the reactor and using a ture in a Shimadzu model XRD 6000 equipment. The
catalytic support that can minimize carbon production. The experiments were carried out by using nickel filter and Cu
most used commercial catalyst is constituted by nickel Ka (l = 1.54051 A) radiation generated at 40 kV and 30 mA.
supported on a refractory material such as alumina (g-Al2O3) The specific surface areas (Sg) were measured in a Micro-
with promoters, usually alkaline metal for improving the meritics ASAP 2020 instrument. The catalyst (0.25 g) was
support stability and for suppressing the coke deposition activated by heating at 200 8C for 1 h, under vacuum
[4,5]. (106 mbar). Nitrogen adsorption experiments were carried
As coke burning from spent catalyst is a highly out at 77 K.
exothermic reaction, which occurs at high temperature, the In order to obtain the temperature-programmed reduction
support must show not only a high thermal stability but also profile, a Micromeritics model TPD/TPR 2900 equipment was
facilitate coke removal [1013]. Several studies had shown used. Samples (0.250.3 g) were reduced in a range from 30 to
that basic catalysts promote the reaction of carbon with 600 8C, at 10 8C min1, under a 5% H2/N2 mixture flow. The
steam, decreasing the coke deposition. Therefore, several carbon content in the spent samples was determined in a Leco
basic systems have been studied either as promoters or as model CS-200 equipment, using Lecocel and the iron chip
supports for nickel catalysts [14]. Among them, lanthana has accelerator.
been pointed out as a promising option because of its basicity Photoelectron spectra (XPS) were obtained in a VG Escalab
and its high thermal stability [15]. In this context, this work 200R spectrometer using a hemispherical electron analyser and
aims to study the effect of aluminum on the properties of Mg Ka X-ray source. The powder samples were pressed in a
lanthana with the aim of finding alternative supports to MRS copper holder, which was introduced in the pre-treatment
catalysts. chamber, where the sample was degassed to 350 8C for 1 h,
before being introduced in the analysis chamber. Peak
2. Experimental intensities were estimated by calculating the integral of each
peak after smoothing and subtraction of an S-shaped back-
2.1. Sample preparation ground and fitting the experimental peak by a least-squares
routine using Gaussian and Lorentzian lines. Atomic ratios
The samples with lanthanum-to-aluminum molar ratio of 10 were computed from the intensity ratios normalized by atomic
(LA sample) were prepared by hydrolysis of aluminum and sensitivity factors. The binding energy (BE) reference was
lanthanum nitrate, at room temperature. The sol produced was taken at the C 1s peak from carbon contamination of the
centrifuged and rinsed with water to remove the nitrate ions. samples at 284.9 eV, which gives a precision of 0.2 eV.
The sample was calcined at 600 8C, for 4 h. Aluminum oxide
(A sample) and lanthanum oxide (L sample) were also prepared 2.3. Catalytic tests
by the same procedure. The supports were impregnated with a
nickel nitrate solution at room temperature, in order to obtain a The catalysts were evaluated in a stainless steel microreactor
nickel catalyst 15% weight, and then calcined at the same using samples (0.15 g) previously reduced in situ under
conditions. The catalysts will be referred to hereafter as NA, NL hydrogen flow at 500 8C for 2 h. The reaction was carried
and NLA. out at 600 8C, 1 bar and using a steam-to-methane molar ratio
S.P. de Lima et al. / Catalysis Today 133135 (2008) 925930 927
Table 3
Binding energies (eV) of core-levels of the samples before and after (S) the
methane steam reforming. NL and NLA samples: nickel supported on lanthana
and on aluminum-loaded lanthana, respectively
Sample C 1s La 3d5/2 O 1s Al 2p Ni 2p1/2
NL 289.5 834.6 531.0 872.5
NLA 289.4 835.0 531.4 74.4 873.1
NLA-S 289.6 835.0 531.6 74.5 872.9
Table 4
Atomic surface composition of fresh and spent (S) catalysts. NL and NLA
samples: nickel supported on lanthana and on aluminum-loaded lanthana,
respectively
Sample Ni/La Al/La Ni/Al Ni/(Al + La) CO32/La
NL 0.699 0.699 0.992
NLA 0.122 0.249 0.481 0.097 0.694
NLA-S 0.078 0.240 0.326 0.063 1.116
overcome this complication, the BE of the less intense Ni 2p1/2 catalyst led to high methane conversion and showed high
peak was measured. The BE values at 872.7.873.2 eV reveal the selectivity to hydrogen; both increasing during reaction. This
presence of ionic nickel species. can be assigned to reduction of the nickel phases in strong
From the intensities of Al 2p, La 3d5/2, C 1s and Ni 2p1/2 interaction with support, by the hydrogen produced in the
peaks and considering the sensitivity factors given by Wagner reaction.
et al. [23], the Ni/Al, Al/La, Ni/(Al + La) and CO32/La atomic Briefly, aluminum changes the textural and chemical
ratios were calculated. These ratios are also compiled in properties of lanthana-supported nickel improving its catalytic
Table 4. It can be noted that the surface of the aluminum-free performance, such as activity, selectivity to hydrogen and
sample is richer is nickel than the aluminum-loaded lanthanum stability.
oxide. In addition, nickel migrated from the surface during
reaction.
All catalysts were active in the MSR reaction and selective Acknowledgements
to hydrogen, as is illustrated in Fig. 6. The aluminum-free
sample led to low conversions since the beginning of reaction. SPL thanks CAPES for her graduate scholarship. The
The selectivity to hydrogen as a function of reaction time authors thank CNPq and FINEP for the financial support.
showed the same profile, reaching values close to 2% at the end
of reaction. On the other hand, the aluminum-loaded lanthana
(NLA sample) led to high conversion values (30%), at the References
beginning of reaction. A further increasing of around 60% was
[1] A.M. Adris, C.J. Limm, J.R. Grace, Chem. Eng. Sci. 52 (1997) 1609.
achieved after 6 h of reaction time. The selectivity curve [2] J.N. Armor, Appl. Catal A: Gen. 176 (1999) 159.
presented a similar profile, showing selectivity to hydrogen of [3] N. Sittichai, O. Oktar, U.S. Ozkan, J. Mol. Catal. A: Chem. 241 (2005)
about 30% at the beginning of the reaction and 70% after 5 h of 133.
reaction time. The activity increased probably due to an [4] Y. Wang, Y.H. Chin, R.T. Rozmiarek, B.R. Johnson, Y. Gao, J. Watson,
increase of the metallic sites during reaction, which are A.Y.L. Tonkovich, D.P. van der Wiel, Catal. Today 98 (2005) 575.
[5] A.F. Lucredio, E.M. Assaf, J. Power Sources 159 (2006) 667.
selective to hydrogen production. These sites come likely from [6] J.S. Lisboa, D.C.R.M. Santos, F.B. Passos, F.B. Noronha, Catal. Today 101
the slow reduction (by the hydrogen generated in the SMR (2005) 15.
reaction) of a fraction of the NiAl2O4 phase formed during air- [7] Q. Miao, G. Xiong, S. Sheng, W. Cui, L. Xu, X. Guo, Appl. Catal. A: Gen.
calcination of the impregnate precursor. As noted by 154 (1997) 17.
temperature-programmed reduction, the presence of aluminum [8] R. Jin, Y. Chen, W. Li, W. Cui, Y. Ji, C. Yu, Y. Jiang, Appl. Catal. A: Gen.
201 (2000) 71.
makes the nickel reduction more difficult. All catalysts showed [9] T. Sperle, D. Chen, R. Lodeng, A. Holmen, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 282
low amounts of coke as shown in Table 2. (2005) 195.
[10] J.A.C. Dias, J.M. Assaf, J. Power Sources 137 (2004) 264.
4. Conclusions [11] D.L. Trimm, Catal. Today 49 (1999) 3.
[12] M.A. Pena, J.P. Gomez, J.L.G. Fierro, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 144 (1996) 7.
[13] B. Ersoy, V. Gunay, Ceram. Int. 30 (2004) 163.
The addition of aluminum to lanthana, by simultaneous [14] E. Ruckenstein, Y.H. Hu, J. Catal. 161 (1996) 55.
hydrolysis of the corresponding metallic nitrate, followed by [15] S. Kus, M. Otremba, M. Taniewski, Fuel 82 (2003) 1331.
calcination, leads to structural and textural changes of lanthana. [16] R.A. Niquist, R.O. Kagel, Infrared Spectra of Inorganic Compounds,
The lanthana support is made of lanthanum oxide and Academic Press, Orlando, 1971, p. 3.
lanthanum nitrate hydroxide while the aluminum-loaded [17] J. Wang, L. Dong, Y. Hu, G. Zheng, Z. Hu, Y. Chen, J. Solid State Chem.
157 (2001) 274.
support contains only lanthanum oxide. The nickel incorpo- [18] A.A. Lemonidou, I.A. Vasalos, Appl. Catal. A: Gen. 228 (2002) 227.
rated to the lanthana substrate forms not only nickel oxide [19] S. Ho, T. Chou, Ind. Eng. Chem. Res. 34 (1995) 2279.
(NiO) but also La2NiO4 phase via solid-state reaction with [20] A. Jones, B. McNicol, Temperature-Programmed Reduction for Solid
La2O3 while nickel incorporated onto Al-loaded La2O3 Materials Characterization, Marcel Dekker Inc., New York, 1986.
[21] J.L.G. Fierro, Catal. Today 8 (1990) 153.
develops a stable, difficult to reduce NiAl2O4 phase.
[22] A.N. Chaika, A.M. Ionov, N.A. Tulina, D.A. Shulyatev, Ya.M. Mukovskii,
All activated catalysts were active in the MSR reaction and J. Elect. Spec. Relat. Phenom. 148 (2005) 101.
were selective to hydrogen, but the aluminum-free one showed [23] C.D. Wagner, L.E. Davis, M.V. Zeller, J.A. Taylor, R.H. Raymond, L.H.
very low activity. On the other hand, the aluminum-loaded Gale, Surf. Interf. Anal. 3 (1981) 211.