Development of platinum-based bimodal pore catalyst for CO2 reforming of CH4

The synthesis and preparation conditions for bimodal pore catalyst support were studied. SiO2–SiO2, ZrO2–SiO2, or Al2O3–SiO2 bimodal pore support could be optimally prepared by incipient-wetness impregnation (IWI) of silica Q-50 pellet with silica, zirconia or alumina sol, respectively. Pore size measurement results suggested that the obtained bimodal pore supports showed two kinds of pores, mesopores and original macropores, simultaneously. The newly formed mesopores contributed to the increased BET surface area of bimodal pore support, compared with that of the original silica Q-50. Pt catalysts supported on these kinds of supports were tested in CO2 reforming of CH4. The performances of Pt/ZrO2–SiO2 and Pt/Al2O3–SiO2 bimodal pore catalysts were better. Furthermore, it was found that Pt/Al2O3–SiO2 bimodal catalyst showed better reforming performance than Pt/ZrO2–SiO2 bimodal catalyst. And furthermore, CeO2 modified Pt/Al2O3–SiO2 bimodal pore catalyst exhibited highest activity and stability under the present study conditions.