Ruthenium Catalyst Supported on Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes for CO Oxidation

This work proposes the synthesis of the 5%wt Ru on MWCNT catalyst and the influence of feed rate and testing variables for low-temperature oxidation affecting the CO2 yield. Morphology and incorporation of the nanoparticles in carbon nanotubes were investigated by specific surface area (BET method); thermogravimetric analyses (TGA); X-ray diffraction; Raman spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and XPS. The conversions of CO and O2 were mostly 100% in groups C1 and C2 (temperature between 200 and 500°C with low WHSV). In order to assess the effect of mass on catalytic activity, condition C3 was tested at even lower temperatures. In the tested catalyst, high activity (100% CO and O2 conversion) was observed, keeping it active under reaction conditions, suggesting oxi-reduction of the RuO2 at surface without affecting the MWCNT but Lewis acid influencing the CO2 yield.