Ammonia decomposition over the ruthenium catalysts deposited on magnesium–aluminum spinel Original Research Article

Ruthenium catalysts (4.6 wt.%) supported on the magnesium–aluminum spinel and promoted with barium (Ba:Ru=1:1 molar ratio) or caesium (Cs:Ru=1:1) were studied in the reaction of ammonia decomposition under a 1 bar pressure. Both Ba-Ru/MgAl2O4 and Cs-Ru/MgAl2O4 proved to be significantly more active than the unpromoted system (a factor of 10) and more active than the conventional magnetite-based catalyst used commonly in the NH3 synthesis. However, the surfaces of the spinel-based catalysts were less active (TOF) than those of analogously promoted (Ba, Cs) ruthenium on carbon.