Structured noble metal-based catalysts for the WGS process intensification

Pt/Re-based catalysts differently supported (Al2O3, ZrO2, CeO2, CeZrO4) were prepared, characterized and tested for Water Gas Shift reaction, highlighting the excellent performance of the catalyst supported on the high reducible ceria-zirconia. With the intent to prepare a structured catalyst, based on the 1Pt/1Re/CeZrO4formulation, a highly heat conductive aluminum foam was washcoated with a primer of alumina, the resulting carrier was firstly impregnated with a solution of the salts precursors of ceria and zirconia, subsequently with the salts precursors of platinum and rhenium. The performance of the resulting structured catalyst was evaluated, for the Water Gas Shift reaction, in different conditions; moreover the performance, in adiabatic condition, was compared with a powder catalyst with the same chemical composition of the structured catalyst, highlighting the effect of the carrier. The back diffusion of the heat of the reaction throughout the carrier, allowed to reduce the ΔT on the catalytic bed and increase the CO conversion, with respect to the powder catalyst. The experimental results were validated with CFD simulations, by using the finite elements method software COMSOL Multiphysics®.