Catalytic properties of ZnO-modified copper ferrite catalysts in water-gas shift reaction

The catalytic properties of ZnO-modified copper ferrite in water-gas shift (WGS) reaction were evaluated between 250 and 400 ℃. The Zn2.5-Cu/Fe (modified by 2.5% ZnO) showed high catalytic activity. The catalyst was characterized with XRD, SEM, H₂-TPR and CO₂-TPD techniques and N₂ sorption experiment. It was shown that introduction of appropriate amounts of ZnO transformed the CuFe₂O₄ from the tetrahedral crystalline phase to the cubic, enhanced the CuFe₂O₄ reducibility, and increased the amount of weak and medium basic sites. As a consequence, the interaction between copper and iron species was improved and the catalytic activity was increased.