Ruthenium supported on zeolite A: preparation and characterisation of a stable catalyst for ammonia synthesis

Reaction of Ru(NH3)6Cl3 with Na-A and K-A zeolites yielded oligomeric amino-oxo-complexes supported on the zeolite. Controlled thermal activation under hydrogen converted the precursor in a two-step reaction into an active catalyst with good long-term stability and resistance against small doses of oxygen poison. Several nanometers sized Ru metal particles are chemically bonded to the zeolite surface which provides in the K form an alkali promoter at the metal-zeolite interface. Extensive oxidation breaks the metal-support anchoring and re-reduction produces Ru metal particles sintering rapidly into large metal crystals with only small residual catalytic activity