EXAFS study in situ (extended X-ray absorption finestructure) of the reforming reaction with sulfided Pt-Al2O3 and Pt-Re-Al2O3 systems

EXAFS has been used to follow in situ the structural evolution of sulfided Pt/Al2O3-Cl and PtRe/Al2O3-Cl catalysts during the hydrocarbon reaction (T = 500 degrees C, P(H-2) = 8 bars H-2 : n-C7H16 = 1:1 and T=300 degrees C, P(H-2) = 3 bars, H-2 : n-C7H16 = 1:1). The hydrocarbon conversion was monitored, via on line analysis, with a gas chromatograph. For the monometallic, we observe a sintering of the metal particles. In the case of sulfided PtRe/Al2O3-Cl catalysts no sintering of the metallic particles was observed.