Catalytic properties of ZnO-modified copper ferrite catalysts in water-gas shift reaction

The catalytic properties of ZnO-modified copper ferrite in water-gas shift (WGS) reaction were evaluated between 250 and 400°C. The Zn2.5-Cu/Fe (modified by 2.5% ZnO) showed high catalytic activity. The catalyst was characterized with XRD, SEM, H2-TPR and CO2-TPD techniques and N2 sorption experiment. It was shown that introduction of appropriate amounts of ZnO transformed the CuFe2O4 from the tetrahedral crystalline phase to the cubic, enhanced the CuFe2O4 reducibility, and increased the amount of weak and medium basic sites. As a consequence, the interaction between copper and iron species was improved and the catalytic activity was increased.