Propylene Glycol Reforming Catalyst Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catalysts for propylene glycol reforming are not stable enough to achieve complete conversion, leading to deactivation due to secondary reactions such as carbonaceous material formation.
Innovation Solution
A catalyst comprising a support material of high specific surface area metal oxides, specifically Al, Si, Ti, Y, La, Ce, and Pr oxides, with a catalytic constituent of Rh, Ru, Pd, Pt, or Ni, optimized to reduce secondary reactions and maintain stability, applied as a bed or surface coating in a reformer reactor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If existing catalysts are used for propylene glycol reforming, then the reforming reaction can proceed, but the catalyst deactivates due to secondary reactions such as carbonaceous material formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the catalyst by using specific metal oxides (Al2O3, CeO2, La2O3, Pr6O11) as support materials and noble metals (Rh, Ru, Pd, Pt) or Ni as active components. This compositional parameter change reduces the catalyst's acidity and suppresses secondary reactions that lead to carbonaceous material formation, thereby improving catalyst stability and reliability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs composite catalyst structures combining metal oxide supports with noble metal or nickel active components. The metal oxide support (particularly Al2O3 combined with CeO2, La2O3, or Pr6O11) provides high surface area and controlled acidity, while the noble metal or Ni provides catalytic activity. This composite structure achieves both high activity and stability by reducing carbonaceous material formation compared to conventional catalysts.
2Area of stationary object
If γ-Al2O3 is used as support material, then the specific surface area is high, but the acidity promotes secondary reactions and carbonaceous material formation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the acidity parameter of the support material by replacing γ-Al2O3 with α-Al2O3, which has lower acidity. This parameter change suppresses secondary reactions and carbonaceous material formation. The patent further optimizes the surface area by combining α-Al2O3 with metal oxides having high surface area (CeO2, La2O3, Pr6O11), thereby maintaining sufficient contact between reactants and catalyst while reducing harmful secondary reactions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates composite support materials combining α-Al2O3 with CeO2, La2O3, or Pr6O11. This composite structure compensates for the lower surface area of α-Al2O3 compared to γ-Al2O3 by incorporating metal oxides with high surface area, while the overall composite maintains lower acidity than γ-Al2O3, thus suppressing carbonaceous material formation.
3Productivity
If the catalytic constituent concentration is increased, then the conversion efficiency improves, but the cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the concentration parameter of the catalytic constituent within specific ranges (0.1-35 wt%, preferably 0.5-20 wt%, particularly preferably 1-10 wt%). This parameter optimization achieves high conversion efficiency while avoiding excessive use of expensive noble metals. The patent also changes the distribution and dispersion of the catalytic constituent on the high-surface-area support material, improving utilization efficiency.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The catalyst ensures complete conversion of propylene glycol with reduced deactivation, allowing for efficient hydrogen production in fuel cell systems, suitable for use in vehicles and other applications.
Implementation Method 1
The reaction advantageously takes place as a catalytic reaction... the catalytic constituent comprises at least one element selected from the following group: Rh, Ru, Pd, Pt and Ni
Implementation Method 2
The support material has, in particular, a relatively high specific surface area in order to allow sufficient contact between the vaporized propylene glycol/water mixture and the catalyst
Implementation Method 3
converted with addition of air into a hydrogen-containing gas... The reaction advantageously takes place as a catalytic reaction
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a catalyst for the reforming of propylene glycol, comprising a support material (1) and a catalytic constituent (2),wherein the support material (1) is composed of one or more metal oxides, andthe catalytic constituent (2) comprises at least one element selected from the following group: Rh, Ru, Pd, Pt and Ni.