Reforming of methane with carbon dioxide over Pt/ZrO2/SiO2 catalysts—Effect of zirconia to silica ratio Original Research Article

ZrO2/SiO2 mixed oxides with different ratios (2:1 to 4:1) were prepared by a deposition–precipitation method from zirconium hydroxide and colloidal silica and used as supports for platinum nano-particles. The synthesized catalysts along with Pt/ZrO2 reference materials were tested for CH4 reforming with CO2 at a high temperature of 1073 K and at high space velocity.Very high reforming activity was observed for the Pt/ZrO2/SiO2 (4:1) sample among all the prepared catalysts. The effect of zirconia to silica ratio on the physico-chemical properties that determine the catalytic activity has been investigated characterizing all the catalysts after calcination, reduction as well as after reaction with several techniques. From X-ray diffraction patterns, BET and H2 chemisorption measurements, X-ray photoelectron and FTIR spectra, the better catalytic properties of the Pt/ZrO2/SiO2 (4:1) sample have been explained by higher Pt dispersion due to the absence of remaining free silica and the presence of amorphous ZrSiO4 in higher amount. Additionally, a better thermal stability of the prepared ZrO2/SiO2 supports compared to ZrO2 was evidenced after ageing at 1073 K for 16 h in particular for the ratio 4:1. It also underlines the interest of the preparation method.