Preferential catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide in presence of hydrogen over bimetallic AuPt supported on zeolite catalysts

A series of AuPt/A zeolite and Pt/A zeolite catalysts prepared by incipient wetness impregnation are investigated for the preferential oxidation (PROX) of carbon monoxide in the presence of hydrogen over the temperature range of 50–310 °C under atmospheric pressure. The results indicate that when a small amount of gold is added to the Pt/A zeolite catalyst, the CO selectivity is improved at low temperatures, and 1% AuPt/A zeolite (at a weight ratio of Au:Pt = 1:2) gives the best performance, which provides a high CO conversion in combination with a high CO selectivity. In more realistic simulated reformate gases containing 10% CO2 and 10% H2O, there is not much difference between those in the presence and the absence of CO2 and H2O. Transmission electron microscopic and X-ray diffraction studies show that the two metals, Au and Pt, appear to be severely phase separated, which is confirmed by energy dispersive investigations.