Water Gas Shift Catalysis

TLDR

The paper reviews recent developments in water gas shift catalysis, highlights challenges for fuel cell applications, and critically examines the reaction mechanism. Recent advances involve chromium‑free and highly active catalysts, including precious metal nanoparticles on partially reducible oxide supports such as Pt‑ceria, Pt‑titania, and Au‑ceria, which operate at lower steam‑to‑gas ratios and high space velocities.

Abstract

Developments in water gas shift (WGS) catalysis, especially during the last decade, are reviewed. Recent developments include the development of 1 Mond, L. and Langer, C. 1888. British Patent, 12608 [Google Scholar] chromium‐free catalysts that can operate at lower steam to gas ratios and 2 Bosch, C. and Wild, W. 1914. Canadian Patent, 153379 [Google Scholar] more active catalysts that can operate at gas hourly space velocities above 40,000 h−1. A current challenge is to develop catalysts for use in fuel cell applications. Precious metal catalysts supported on partially reducible oxide supports (Pt‐ceria, Pt‐titania, Au‐ceria, etc.) are the current front runners. A critical review of the mechanism of the WGS reaction is also presented.