Novel Catalytic Materials for the Hydrodesulfurization and Water-Gas Shift Processes
EMSL Project ID
19190
Abstract
This proposal for the use of instrumentation at the EMSL User Facility addresses two critical processes in the production of clean fuels: hydrodesulfurization (HDS) and water-gas shift (WGS) catalysis. Research in the PI?s laboratory at WWU focuses on the preparation, characterization and evaluation of novel materials for use as catalysts in these processes. In the area of HDS, our on-going research program involves the preparation of oxide-supported metal phosphide catalysts, materials that have demonstrated catalytic properties similar or superior to those of conventional sulfide-based catalysts. In the proposed work, the role of the metal-to-phosphorus ratio in binary phosphides and the effect of a second metal in ternary Ni-based phosphides are being probed. A second area of focus is the preparation of highly active nickel phosphide-based catalysts supported on amorphous and crystalline Al-containing materials. The catalysts are characterized with a variety of bulk and surface sensitive physicochemical techniques that are available in the PI?s laboratory and elsewhere. Building upon previous collaborations, we propose to continue characterization studies at the EMSL user facility. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provides information concerning the surface composition of the metal phosphide particles as well as the oxidation states of surface species. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) permits us to probe the morphology and size of the metal phosphide and support particles, and to determine the crystallinity of phosphide particles below the size limit detectable by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD). The analysis of powder XRD patterns acquired at WWU is aided by staff expertise and software available at EMSL.
The second research focus, which lies in WGS catalysis, is a new venture for my research group and builds upon a recent sabbatical experience in the laboratory of Professor Maria Flytzani-Stephanopoulos of Tufts University. Water-in-oil microemulsions are being used as a synthesis medium for the preparation of nanoscale metal oxide powders and core-shell nanocomposites. The nanoscale metal oxide powders will be used as supports for Au-based catalysts and the WGS properties of these catalysts will be compared with those of the core-shell nanocomposite catalysts. The goal of this exploratory research is to determine whether the core-shell nanocomposites, having buried oxide-metal interfaces and porous shells, can be developed as sulfur-tolerant WGS catalysts. As described above for the phosphide-based HDS catalysts, the catalytic materials developed in this WGS research project will be characterized with a number of techniques available at WWU, but the use of XPS and TEM at the EMSL user facility will be critical to the advancement of this project.
Project Details
Project type
Large-Scale EMSL Research
Start Date
2006-07-20
End Date
2009-09-30
Status
Closed
Released Data Link
Team
Principal Investigator
Team Members
Related Publications
Burns, A. W; Gaudette, A. F.; Bussell, M. E. “Hydrodesulfurization Properties of Cobalt–nickel Phosphide Catalysts: Ni-rich Materials are Highly Active,” Journal of Catalysis 2008, 260, 262-269.
Burns, A. W; Layman, K. A.; Bale D. H.; Bussell, M. E. “Understanding the Relationship Between Composition and Hydrodesulfurization Properties for Cobalt Phosphide Catalysts,” Applied Catalysis A: General 2008, 343, 68-76.
Parks, G. L.; Pease, M. L.; Burns, A. W.; Layman, K. A.; Bussell, M. E.; Wang, X.; Hanson, J.; Rodriguez, J. A. “Characterization and Hydrodesulfurization Properties of Catalysts Derived from Amorphous Metal-Boron Materials,” Journal of Catalysis 2007, 246, 277-292.