In situ and operando spectroscopic studies of sonically aided catalysts for biogas exhaust abatement

The aim of this study was to test sonochemical method to modify surface of catalysts to obtain highly dispersed and active materials for methane combustion. The catalysts were characterised by various physicochemical characterisation methods including: DLS, BET nitrogen adsorption, SEM, EDX and ED-XRF. The results of classical surface analyses and catalytic tests were correlated with the operando DRIFT/MS spectroscopy results. The sonochemical preparation method has proven an efficient way to obtain the active catalysts for methane catalytic combustion. The chromium oxide catalyst has revealed great activity compared to the commercially used palladium catalysts. The DRIFT/MS operando analyses have proven that the formate intermediates at the catalyst surface are stable during methane catalytic combustion. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.