Cobalt catalysts supported on γ-alumina, ceria and γ-alumina-ceria, with 10 or 20%wt of cobalt load, prepared by the wet impregnation method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), field emission transmission electron microscopy (FETEM), N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms (BET/BJH methods), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), X-ray photoemission spectroscopy (XPS), O2-chemisorption and temperature programmed reduction (TPR) were used to promote the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (n-hexane, benzene, toluene and o-xylene). For a range of low temperatures (50-350 °C), the activity of the catalysts with a higher cobalt load (20% wt) was greater than that of the catalysts with a lower cobalt load (10% wt). The Co/γ-Al2O3-CeO2 catalytic systems presented the best performances. The results obtained in the characterization suggest that the higher catalytic activity of the Co20/γ-Al2O3-CeO2 catalyst may be attributed to the higher metal content and amount of oxygen vacancies, as well as the effects of the interaction between the cobalt and the alumina and cerium oxides.

The CO2 reforming of CH4 was carried out over Ni catalysts supported on γ -Al2O3 and CeO2-promoted γ -Al2O3. The catalysts were characterized by means of surface area measurements, TPR, CO2 and H2 chemisorption, XRD, SEM, and TEM. The CeO2 addition promoted an increase of catalytic activity and stability. The improvement in the resistance to carbon deposition is attributed to the highest CO2 adsorption presented by the CeO2 addition. The catalytic behavior presented by the samples, with a different CH4/CO2 ratio used, points to the CH4 decomposition reaction as the main source of carbon deposition.

Neste trabalho são apresentados os procedimentos de preparação de materiais cerâmicos de SiO2, SnO2 e Al2O3 e, também, suas propriedades catalíticas nas reações de reforma do metano e do metanol. As análises dos resíduos de carbono, após testes catalíticos, sugerem que a modificação estrutural dos catalisadores pode minimizar os efeitos de sua desativação.

This work presents the procedures for preparing SiO2, SnO2 and Al2O3 ceramic materials and also their catalytic properties for the reforming reactions of methane and methanol. The analyses of the carbonaceous residues suggest that the structural modification of the catalyst can minimize the deactivation effect upon them.