Preparation and characterization of alumina-supported Co and Ag/Co catalysts

The effect of silver addition as a promoter in alumina supported cobalt oxide catalysts is investigated in this study. The Co/Al2O3 and Ag/Co/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation. The catalysts were characterized by inductively-coupled plasma spectrometry, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen (TPR-H2), Raman spectroscopy and nitrogen adsorption at 77 K. XDR and Raman Spectroscopy results indicated the presence of Co3O4 species. The peaks observed in the TPR-H2 patterns were attributed to the reduction of Ag2O, Co3O4 crystallites and Co+3, Co+2 species interacting with alumina. It is suggested that silver used as a promoter favors the reduction of cobalt, facilitating the formation of active Co0 sites.