ZrO2-modified Al2O3-supported PdCu catalysts for the water denitrification reaction

MARÍA A. JAWORSKI; ILEANA D. LICK; GUILLERMO J. SIRI; MÓNICA L. CASELLA

APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL

ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV

Lugar: Amsterdam; Año: 2014 vol. 156 p. 53 - 61

0926-3373

Monometallic Pd and bimetallic PdCu catalysts supported on alumina, zirconia and ZrO2/Al2O3 mixed oxides of different composition were prepared and evaluated in the catalytic denitrification of water. The supports were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray (SEM/EDX), NH3-adsorption thermogravimetry and specific surface areas measured by the BET method. XRD studies showed that the predominant phase in the ZrO2-modified Al2O3 supports is the metastable tetragonal phase (57%) of zirconia. SEM/EDX results indicated that ZrO2 crystals are distributed homogeneously on the supports. Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) experiments carried out on bimetallic PdCu catalysts showed that Pd is well dispersed on the modified supports and that there is a strong interaction between both metals. The modification of Al2O3 by the addition of ZrO2 not only improved the activity but also the selectivity to N2 of the PdCu catalysts.