IMPROVED ACTIVITY OF A SILICA-SUPPORTED RUTHENIUM CATALYST BY CARBON-MONOXIDE PRETREATMENT

Silica supported ruthenium catalysts have been prepared by incipient w etness impregnation with RuCl3 (aq). After drying and reduction these catalysts were additionally treated with carbon monoxide or CO/H-2 at 250-degrees-C. Due to this treatment the catalyst's carbon monoxide ch emisorption capacity significantly increased compared to normal reduct ion. At the same time the intrinsic reactivity for carbon monoxide dis sociation is enhanced. These effects are attributed to the structural changes of the catalysts. A model, based on TPR, XPS, IR and TEM measu rements, is proposed. The carbon monoxide treatment results in a catal yst that is better reducible and has larger metal ensembles.