Catalysis Today, Vol.89, No.1-2, 223-231, 2004
Plasma-chemical preparation of nanostructured catalysts for low-temperature steam conversion of carbon monoxide: catalytic activity
The "warm walls" (WW) plasma -chemical reactors (PCR) synthesized catalyst samples (types LTC-1-3) give up by activity compared to their industrial analogues; and these synthesized in PCR with "cold walls" (CW) (types LTC-7-9) have a commensurable activity compared to those of the industrial catalysts used by the Bulgarian company CHIMCO-Vratza. Their activities were defined by using a model gas simulating the industrial one for temperatures and a volume rate of the steam-gas mixture similar to those used in the industrial process of low-temperature steam conversion of CO. The enhanced catalytic activity of the plasma-chemically synthesized samples is owing to: the faulty crystal lattice structure of the catalytically active phases; the nanodispersed sample composition (the crystal sizes of the catalytically active phases ranges from 10 to 40 nm); the presence of Cu2O in the fresh samples, apart form the presence of CuO; the content of cuprous oxides-30-38 mass%; the even distribution of the ultradispersed components, the high porosity, specific surface and dispersity of the phases. Due to the bonding of a portion of the elemental Cu in the CuAl2O4 spinet crystal lattice, the plasma-chemically synthesized samples type LTC have a high thermal resistance which exceeds that of their conventional industrial analogues. The high specific surface of the plasma-chemically synthesized samples for low-temperature steam conversion of CO, their homogenous chemical composition, high formation rate of their active surface by reduction, high activity and thermal resistance, represent a precondition to extend the investigation on developing a plasma-chemical technology for their industrial synthesis in the catalyst workshops. (C) 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Keywords:plasma-chemical preparation;nanostructured catalysts;low-temperature steam conversion of carbon monoxide;properties;catalytic activity