One-step incorporation of Pd–Zn catalytic sites into organized mesoporous alumina for use in the oxidative steam reforming of methanol

In this paper we report the preparation of an organized mesoporous Pd–Zn/alumina system, by a new surfactant-assisted single-step sol–gel synthesis, performed in alcohol, using stearic acid as a chemical template, aluminum sec-butoxide as Al source and metal stearates both as Pd–Zn sources and as structural directing agents. The prepared materials have been characterized using a variety of techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray powder diffraction and N2 adsorption–desorption, and preliminarily tested in the oxidative steam reforming of methanol (OSRM) in the temperature range 100–400 °C.

Graphical abstractA organized mesoporous Pd–Zn/Al2O3 system is prepared by a single-step sol–gel synthesis using stearic acid as template and metal stearates as Pd–Zn sources and structural directing agents.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide