Dynamical Properties of a Ru/MgAl₂O₄ Catalyst during Reduction and Dry Methane Reforming

Abstract

Combined in situ small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) studies were performed in a new laboratory setup to investigate the dynamical properties of a ruthenium/spinel (Ru/MgAl2O4) catalyst, w(Ru) = 4 wt %, during the reduction and subsequent dry methane reforming. The Ru particles in the fresh catalyst sample were found to be partially oxidized. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) indicated a coexistence of pure Ru and RuO2 nanoparticles. Reduction in hydrogen occurred at a temperature between 373 and 393 K. The mean particle diameter as refined from SAXS of the size regime attributed to scattering from Ru/RuO2-particles decreases slightly by about 0.2 nm during the reduction. Dry methane reforming experiments were performed in a temperature interval from 723 to 1023 K by applying a gas mixture of carbon dioxide and methane in molar ratio of 3:1. The catalyst did not show any deactivation during the experiment of overall 32 h, indicated by stable turnover frequencies for methane. The mean Ru-particle diameter remained constant during the dry methane reforming experiments, revealing a high sintering stability of the Ru/MgAl2O4 catalyst.