Catalytic removal of methane over cobalt chromite (CoCr2O4) nanospinels for CNG vehicles, International Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

چکیده مقاله

Cobalt chromite (CoCr₂O₄) with normal spinel structure, shows catalytic activity for oxidation of unburned methane in the natural gas vehilcles (NGV). In this study, CoCr₂O₄ nanoparticles were synthesized through a conventional co-precipitation technique and investigated for the catalytic combustion of methane. Cobalt nitrate hexahydrate, chromium nitrate nonahydrate and ammonia solution (25%) were used as the starting materials. The obtained results show that the CoCr₂O₄ nanospinels were produced as single phase with an average diameter between 25-50 nm.Characterization studies by X- ray diffraction (XRD), N₂ adsorption/desorption(BET), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature program oxidation (TPO) and O₂- temperature programmed desorption (O₂-TPD) were carried out.The specific surface area (S_BET) of the synthesized nanoparticles was measured using multiple point Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method.40 m².g^-1 was obtained for CoCr₂O₄ nanoparticles. The results revealed that cobalt chromite nanoparticles have significant capability for methane conversion at 435^oC.