Performance of spinel ferrite catalysts integrated with mesoporous Al2O3 in the high temperature water–gas shift reaction

• Spinel ferrite catalysts supported on mesoporous Al2O3 have been applied for WGS.
• Cu-modified Fe3O4-MA showed the highest CO conversion.
• The Cu/Fe ratio was systematically varied to optimize CuxFe(3−x)O4-MA catalysts.
• The Cu1.5Fe1.5O4-MA exhibited stable activity with TOS even at a very high GHSV.
• The improved performance of the catalyst is correlated with easier reducibility.

The present study focuses on the use of spinel ferrite (MFe2O4) catalysts (M = Ni, Co, Fe, or Cu) integrated with mesoporous alumina for the high temperature water–gas shift (WGS) reaction. Among these catalysts, copper ferrite integrated with mesoporous alumina exhibits outstanding performance. To optimize the Cu/Fe ratio in the copper ferrite catalyst, we prepared different CuxFe(3−x)O4-MA catalysts (x = 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5) by varying the Cu/Fe mole ratio. Of the various Cu/Fe catalysts, the 1:1 mole ratio of Cu/Fe exhibited the highest CO conversion (84%) and 100% selectivity to CO2 at a very high GHSV of 42,000 h−1. The improved performance of the catalyst is correlated with its easier reducibility.

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