TEMPERATURE-PROGRAMMED CHARACTERIZATION OF SPENT SYNGAS CATALYST (NiO/CaO)

This research project is conducted to characterize the fresh and spent catalyst of
NiO/CaO using temperature programmed. The characterization techniques used are
Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR) and Temperature Programmed Oxidation
(TPO). Characterization of catalyst is important in order to determine the catalyst
properties. The author has analyzed several methods used such as TPR, TPO, FTIR and
CHNS,which had led to significant findings in this area of study. TPR analysis is used to
determine the temperature at which reduction take place in the species. From this, it can
also be observed the amount of hydrogen consumption and determine the other
contaminant species reduced especially for spent catalyst. For the fresh catalyst, the
nickel species are reduced at 410°Cand 680°C, while for the spent catalyst, it is reduced
at 400 °C and 640 °C. There are two NiO particles size distribution exists which are lower
reduction temperature particles range for smaller size and higher reduction temperature
range for bigger size.
TPO analysis is used to determine the temperature at which oxidation take place in
the catalysts. From both two analysis, TPR and TPO, it is necessary to determine the
regeneration method, which can improve the catalyst performance similar to fresh
catalyst. CHNS is used in order to determine the amount of carbon and hydrogen
contained in the catalyst. This project concluded that high carbonate content in the spent
catalyst. FTIR is one of the methods to identify the functional group present in the
catalyst. From FTIR plot, it is observed that carbonate and -OH present in the spent
catalyst, meanwhile only -OH present in the fresh catalyst.