Issue 49, 2024

Improving the catalytic performance of Co/BaCeO3 catalyst for ammonia synthesis by Y-modification of the perovskite-type support

Abstract

Y-modified perovskite-type oxides BaCe1−xYxO3−δ (x = 0–0.30) were synthesised and used as supports for cobalt catalysts. The influence of yttrium content on the properties of the support and catalyst performance in the ammonia synthesis reaction was examined using PXRD, STEM-EDX, and sorption techniques (N2 physisorption, H2-TPD, CO2-TPD). The studies revealed that the incorporation of a small amount of yttrium into barium cerate (up to 10 mol%) increased specific surface area and basicity. The catalyst testing under conditions close to the industrial ones (T = 400–470 °C, p = 6.3 MPa, H2/N2 = 3) showed that the most active catalyst was deposited on a support containing 10 mol% Y. The NH3 synthesis reaction rate was 15–20% higher than that of the undoped Co/BaCeO3 catalyst. The activity of the catalysts decreased with further increasing Y content in the support (up to 30 mol%). However, all the studied Co/BaCe1−xYxO3−δ catalysts exhibited excellent thermal stability, over 240 h of operation. The particularly beneficial properties of the catalyst containing 10 mol% of Y were associated with the highest basicity of the support surface, favourable adsorption properties (suitable proportion of weakly and strongly hydrogen-binding sites), and preferred size of cobalt particles (60 nm). The Co/BaCe0.90Y0.10O3−δ catalyst showed better ammonia synthesis performance compared to the commercial iron catalyst (ZA-5), giving prospects for process reorganisation towards energy-efficient ammonia production.

Graphical abstract: Improving the catalytic performance of Co/BaCeO3 catalyst for ammonia synthesis by Y-modification of the perovskite-type support

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
29 Aug 2024
Accepted
06 Nov 2024
First published
12 Nov 2024
This article is Open Access
Creative Commons BY-NC license

RSC Adv., 2024,14, 36281-36294

Improving the catalytic performance of Co/BaCeO3 catalyst for ammonia synthesis by Y-modification of the perovskite-type support

M. Zybert, H. Ronduda, W. Patkowski, A. Ostrowski, K. Sobczak and W. Raróg-Pilecka, RSC Adv., 2024, 14, 36281 DOI: 10.1039/D4RA06251E

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