Ceria–Zirconia-Supported Ruthenium Catalysts for Hydrogen Production by Ammonia Decomposition

Abstract

Commercial cerium–zirconium oxide supports (Ce0.5Zr0.5O2, Ce0.75Zr0.25O2, and Ce0.4Zr0.5Y0.05La0.05O2) were used to prepare Ru/CeZrOx catalysts. According to the XRD and IR spectroscopy data, the supports consist of ceria-based substitutional solid solutions. The specific surface areas of supports and catalysts are similar and range from 71–89 m2/g. As shown by TEM and XRD methods, the size of support particles equals 6–11 nm. According to the TEM data, the size of ruthenium particles does not exceed 1.3 nm. The catalyst activity in the ammonia decomposition process was studied. The Ru/Ce0.75Zr0.25O2 catalyst at temperature 500 °C and GHSV 120,000 h−1 demonstrated the highest hydrogen productivity of 53.3 mmol H2/(gcat·min) and compares well with the best results reported in the literature. The kinetics of ammonia decomposition reaction were calculated using the Temkin–Pyzhov exponential expression. The developed mathematical model well described the experimental data. The studied catalysts demonstrated high activity for the ammonia decomposition reaction.