The quantitative description of the effects of cesium doping on the activity and properties of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalyst in low-temperature water–gas shift

The effects of cesium doping (in the concentration range up to 5 wt.% Cs2O) introduced into a copper catalyst with the composition corresponding to that for the industrial catalysts used for low-temperature water–gas shift process (LT-WGS) have been investigated. Precursors and catalysts have been characterized by XRD, ICP-OS, TPD-EGA, N2O chemisorption, TPR, N2 physisorption and reaction rates for WGS and methanol synthesis under the pressure of 2.5 MPa have been determined. The results reveal that the cesium doping inhibits radically methanol synthesis, with the optimal Cs2O content being <1 wt.%.

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► Inhibition of methanol synthesis in the LT-WGS process on Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 by cesium.
► Modification of the reduction process by alkali metals.
► Decrease of specific and active surface areas by alkali metals.
► Significant decrease of methanol formation with a slight effect on LT-WGS process.
► Decrease of catalytic activity upon thermal treatment favored by cesium.