Cu-Co Composite Oxides Supported on Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes for Catalytic Removal of CO in a H₂-rich Stream

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) supported Cu-Co composite oxides catalysts were prepared by an ultrasonication treatment-aided impregnation method. The structure prop-erties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, H₂-TPR, XPS and Raman spectra, indicating the strong interactions between Cu and Co mixed oxides as well as between metal oxides and MWCNT support. The catalytic performance of CO removal in a H₂-rich stream was examined. In contrast to the single Cu and Co catalyst, the unique performance was ob-served for Cu-Co composite catalysts, which features an unusual reaction pathway through the combination of CO preferential oxidation and CO methanation especially at high reac-tion temperature. The optimal catalyst with Cu/Co ratio of 1/8 can achieve the complete CO conversion in a wider temperature range of 150-250 oC under the space velocity as high as 120 L/(h·g), which demonstrates a promising catalyst for the e ective CO removal in a H₂-rich stream.