Article ID | Journal | Published Year | Pages | File Type |
---|---|---|---|---|
1618737 | Journal of Alloys and Compounds | 2010 | 10 Pages |
Abstract
The study of partial oxidation of methane (POM) over bimetallic nickel- or copper-actinide oxides was undertaken. Binary intermetallic compounds of the type AnNi2 (An = Th, U) and ThCu2 were used as precursors and the products (2NiO·UO3, 2NiO·ThO2 and 2CuO·ThO2) characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy and temperature-programmed reduction. The catalysts were active and selective for the conversion of methane to H2 and CO and stable for a period of time of â18 h on stream. The nickel catalysts were more active and selective than the copper catalyst and, under the same conditions, show a catalytic behaviour comparable to that of a platinum commercial catalyst, 5 wt% Pt/Al2O3. The catalytic activity increases when uranium replaces thorium and the selectivity of this type of materials is clearly different from that of single metal oxides and/or mechanical mixtures. The good catalytic behaviour of the bimetallic copper- and nickel-actinide oxides was attributed to an unusual interaction between copper or nickel oxide and the actinide oxide phase as showed by H2-TPR, XPS and Raman analysis of the catalysts before and after reaction.
Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering
Materials Science
Metals and Alloys
Authors
Ana C. Ferreira, A.P. Gonçalves, T. Almeida Gasche, A.M. Ferraria, A.M. Botelho do Rego, M.R. Correia, A. Margarida Bola, J.B. Branco,