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Influence of the Ni/Al ratio on Ni–Al mixed oxides and their catalytic properties for ethanol decomposition

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Abstract

The relationship between the properties with the composition of nickel–aluminium mixed oxides was investigated in this work. Ni–Al materials with Ni/Al molar ratios between 0.5 and 9 were synthesised via co-precipitation. The samples were characterised using the following techniques: surface area measurements (S BET), thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed reduction, desorption and oxidation (H2-TPR, NH3-TPD and TPO/DTA). Samples with Ni/Al ratio = 0.5 primarily formed the Al2O3 phase, whereas Ni/Al ratio = 9 mainly led to the bulk NiO phase. However, Ni/Al ratios between 1 and 3 favoured the formation of the mixed oxide phase with increased thermal stability and specific surface area and decreased crystallite sizes. The lower Ni/Al ratios led to the production of ethylene, which is likely related to the higher number of sites with stronger acidity. The samples with Ni/Al ratios of 2 and 3 promoted selectivity towards synthesis gas. For higher Ni/Al ratios, low thermal stability leading to sintering and deactivation due to coke formation was observed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors wish to thank the financial support and scholarships granted by the “Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico—CNPq” and by the “Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior—CAPES”.

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  1. Department of Chemical Engineering, UFRGS - Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Rua Eng. Luiz Englert S/N°, Build. 12204, Porto Alegre, RS, 90040-040, Brazil

    Guilherme de Souza, Nilson Romeu Marcilio & Oscar William Perez-Lopez

  2. Fundação de Ciência e Tecnologia do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul - Cientec, Av. das Indústrias, 2270, Distrito Industrial, Cachoeirinha, 94930-230, Brazil

    Guilherme de Souza

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  1. Guilherme de Souza
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de Souza, G., Marcilio, N.R. & Perez-Lopez, O.W. Influence of the Ni/Al ratio on Ni–Al mixed oxides and their catalytic properties for ethanol decomposition. J Therm Anal Calorim 128, 735–744 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10973-016-6034-1

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