Catalytic Activity For Methane Oxidation Of Goethite Supported On Alumina

Two kinds of alpha-Fe2O3 catalysts supported on chi-Al2O3 and gamma-Al2O3 were synthesized. alpha-Fe2O3 was prepared from alpha-FeOOH. As a model experiment, an investigation was made with the oxidation of methane. As all catalysts with various Fe contents supported on chi-Al2O3 with various Fe contents had higher specific surface areas than those supported on gamma-Al2O3, alpha-Fe2O3/chi-Al2O3 catalyst has higher catalytic activities than alpha-Fe2O3/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. From SEM-EDS analyses, it is concluded that in alpha-Fe2O3/chi-Al2O3 catalyst, alpha-Fe2O3 exists mainly on the surface of the support, because of flatness of the surface of chi-Al2O3. On the other hand, in the case of alpha-Fe2O3/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst, as the surface of support, gamma-Al2O3, is uneven, alpha-Fe2O3 do not partially exist on the surface but in the pores.