Partial oxidation of n-hexadecane at short contact times: Catalyst and washcoat loading and catalyst morphology Original Research Article

Rhodium supported on alumina foam is an exceptionally active catalytic partial oxidation catalyst, giving high selectivities to syngas or olefins by changing reaction stoichiometry or catalyst properties such as rhodium loading and washcoat loading. Rhodium catalyst loading and γ-alumina washcoat loading were varied systematically on α-alumina foams to investigate resulting microstructure and products of the partial oxidation of n-hexadecane.The morphology of catalysts was examined using scanning electron microscopy. The micrographs indicate that increasing rhodium loading above a few percent led to the formation of a rhodium film on the catalyst support. The presence of washcoat seems to keep rhodium spread on the surface at high reaction temperatures enhancing heterogeneous products. Very high washcoat loadings (10 wt.%) decrease pore diameters, increasing the likelihood of reactant contact with the rhodium surface, leading to increased H2 and decreased olefin selectivities.