Strong improvement on CH4 oxidation over Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalysts

A very strong promotion effect of the presence of 1000 ppmV C3H8 in the reaction feed on CH4-O2 reaction was found over unsulfated 1%Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. This promotion was further increased on pre-sulfated 1%Pt/γ-Al2O3. The promoting effect of pre-sulfation on the activity of 1%Pt/γ-Al2O3 for propane combustion results in a further improvement on methane combustion due to propane combustion heat which is generated at lower temperatures, activating methane combustion over pre-sulfated 1%Pt/γ-Al2O3 at even lower temperatures relative to unsulfated 1%Pt/γ-Al2O3. These results suggest that small amounts of propane in the gas feed during CH4-O2 reaction over a pre-sulfated Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst may eliminate methane emissions at low temperatures from lean-burn NGV exhausts without being deactivated by sulfur poisoning as Pd supported catalysts.