Effect of Ce addition on Cr/γ-Al2O3 catalysts for methane catalytic combustion

Cerium modified and chromium-based catalysts using nano-γ-Al2O3 as the carrier were prepared via incipient wetness impregnation method and investigated for the catalytic combustion of methane (CH4). The Cr-based catalysts promoted with 3 wt.% Ce displayed the most effective catalytic activity among all catalysts investigated. In addition, Ce significantly improved the catalytic performance of CH4 combustion by increasing the amount of reaction site [CrO4]ads species on the surface of Cr-based catalysts. Introduction of Ce content also restrained the deactivation of catalysts at high calcination temperature. Cr-based catalysts modified with cerium seem to be a promising cheap and low-temperature catalyst for CH4 combustion.

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► Cr-based catalysts modified with cerium exhibited excellent catalytic activity on methane combustion.
► Ce introduction can effectively decrease the combustion temperature and increase anti-sintering function.
► Species Cr6 + is the active site for CH4 oxidation.
► The conversion from Cr3 + and Cr6 + into one another was the catalytic cycle.