Gold catalysts supported on mesoporous zirconia for low-temperature water-gas shift reaction

Mesoporous ZrO2 with high surface area and uniform pore size distribution, synthesized by surfactant templating through a neutral [C-13(EO)(6)-Zr(OC3H7)(4)] assembly pathway, was used as a support of gold catalysts prepared by deposition-precipitation method. The supports and the catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, N-2 adsorption analysis, temperature programmed reduction and desorption. The catalytic activity of gold supported on mesoporous zirconia was evaluated in water-gas shift (WGS) reaction at wide temperature range (140-300 degrees C) and at different space velocities and H2O/CO ratios. The catalytic behaviour and the reasons for a reversible deactivation of Au/mesoporous zirconia catalysts were studied. The influence of gold content and particle size on the catalytic performance was investigated. The WGS activity of the new Au/mesoporous zirconia catalyst was compared to the reference Au/TiO2 type A (World Gold Council), revealing significantly higher catalytic activity of Au/mesoporous zirconia catalyst. It is found that the mesoporous zirconia is a very efficient support of gold-based catalyst for the WGS reaction. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.