CO oxidation over sonochemically synthesized Pd–Cu/Al2O3 nanocatalyst used in hydrogen purification: Effect of Pd loading and ultrasound irradiation time

• Ultrasonic assisted synthesise of Pd–Cu/Al2O3 nanocatalyst.
• Addressing effects of Pd loading on carbon monoxide oxidation.
• Addressing positive effect of ultrasonic irradiation time on catalytic properties.
• Potential characteristics of synthesized catalyst for CO oxidation.
• 100% CO conversion at 200 °C for Pd(1.5%)–Cu(20%)/Al2O3.

The bimetallic Pd–Cu nanocatalysts with different Pd loadings and ultrasonic irradiation times were sonochemically synthesized and their activities toward CO oxidation were investigated. XRD, FESEM, TEM, BET, FTIR and TG-DTG techniques were employed in nanocatalysts characterization. XRD data confirmed formation of CuAl2O4 spinel with an average crystallite size of 4.9 nm. FESEM images revealed more uniform pattern and also fewer agglomerations were observed by increasing ultrasonic irradiation time. In agreement with FESEM result, TEM images depicted nanoparticles and uniform dispersion of active phase over alumina. BET surface analysis showed that increasing the Pd loading has no significant effect on surface area; whereas by increasing irradiation time the surface area increases slightly. Catalytic performance tests of synthesized samples showed that Pd(1.5%)–Cu(20%)/Al2O3 with 95 min ultrasonic irradiation time had the best activity over the course of reaction. In addition, increasing CO at feed composition revealed that among synthesized nanocatalysts with 0.5%, 1% and 1.5% of Pd, synthesized sample with 1.5% of Pd had the best low-temperature activity.