Partial oxidation of propane to syngas over nickel supported catalysts modified by alkali metal oxides and rare-earth metal oxides

The reaction performance, catalyst acidity and basicity property. and carbo n-deposition of various nickel-supported catalysts for partial oxidation of propane (POP) to syngas were investigated with a flow-reactor, FTIR, TG an d UVRRS analyses. The NiO/gamma -Al2O3 catalyst is the most suitable for th e POP reaction among NiO/gamma -Al2O3, NiO/MgO and NiO/SiO2. And the reacti on performance of the NiO/gamma -Al2O3 shows little difference from those o f the nickel-supported catalysts modified by alkali metal oxides and rare-e arth metal oxides. However, modification with alkali metal oxide Li2O and r are-earth metal oxide La2O3 can reduce the Lewis acidity intensity of the N iO/gamma -Al2O3 and enhance its ability to suppress carbon-deposition durin g the POP reaction. The carbon-deposition contains graphite-like species th at were detected by UVRRS. The nickel-supported catalysts modified by alkal i metal oxides and rare-earth metal oxides possess good reaction performanc e and carbon-deposition resistance. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All righ ts reserved.