The role of support on the performance of platinum-based catalysts for the total oxidation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

• Published in: Catalysis today 2008-09, Vol.137 (2), p.362-366
• Main Authors: Ntainjua N., Edwin, Carley, Albert F., Taylor, Stuart H.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalytic oxidation; Chemistry; Exact sciences and technology; General and physical chemistry; Naphthalene; PAHs; Support; Theory of reactions, general kinetics. Catalysis. Nomenclature, chemical documentation, computer chemistry; XPS
• ISSN: 0920-5861; 1873-4308
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2007.10.116

A range of Pt supported catalysts have been evaluated for the total oxidation of naphthalene. Catalysts contained 0.5 wt% Pt on a range of supports (γ-Al 2O 3, TiO 2, SiO 2, SnO 2, and CeO 2). SiO 2 was the best support, the 0.5%Pt/SiO 2 catalyst showing a conversion to carbon dioxide of over 90% at 200 °C (100 vppm naphthalene, GHSV = 45,000 h −1). The catalyst also showed a considerably higher activity (in the temperature range 100–175 °C) than a CeO 2 catalyst recently reported to be one of the most effective catalysts for the total oxidation of naphthalene. The high activity of the 0.5%Pt/SiO 2 catalyst has been attributed to the relatively low dispersion and relatively large size of Pt particles. Furthermore, due to the acidic and non-reducible nature of the SiO 2, platinum is expected to have a weak interaction with the support. XPS data identified the presence of Pt 0 on the surface and this contributes to the high activity.