The synergistic effect of the structural precursors of Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts for water–gas shift reaction

The Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts (Cu/Zn = 1, Al = 4–24 mol%) prepared by co-precipitation were investigated for low-temperature water–gas shift reaction (WGSR) in H2-rich feed gas and characterized by means of XRD, DSC and TPR. The synergistic effect of the structural precursors was detected in catalyst containing Al level of 12 mol%, in which CO conversion reaches to 97.5% at 513 K. It suggests that aurichalcite has been partially intercalated into the hydrotalcite and assimilated the surrounding structure during precipitation, which eventually enhances the interaction between the active centers and supports of the catalyst.