Improvement of Pt/ZrO2 by CeO2 for high pressure CH4/CO2 reforming

CH4/CO2 reforming over Pt/ZrO2, Pt/CeO2 and Pt/ZrO2 with CeO2 was investigated at 2 MPa. Pt/ZrO2, which shows stable activity under 0.1 MPa, and Pt/CeO2 showed gradual deactivation with time at the high pressure. The deactivation was suppressed drastically on Pt/ZrO2 with CeO2 prepared by different impregnation order (co-impregnation of Pt and CeO2 on ZrO2, and consecutive impregnation of Pt and CeO2 on ZrO2). The amount of coke deposition was found insignificant and similar among all the catalysts (including Pt/ZrO2 and Pt/CeO2). Catalytic activity after the reaction for 24 h was in agreement with Pt particle size after the reaction for same period, indicating that the difference of the catalytic stability is mainly dependent on the extent of Pt aggregation through catalyst preparation, H-2 reduction, and the CH4/CO2 reforming. Pt aggregation and the amount of coke deposition were least pronounced on (Pt-Ce)/ZrO2 prepared by impregnation of CeO2 on Pt/ZrO2 and the catalyst showed highest stability.