3.4.4. TPR

TPR was performed using a Chemisorb 2750 system (Micrometrics) equipped with a thermal conductivity detector (TCD). Tests were done after calibration of H2 consumption. Fifteen milligrams of the studied catalyst were put on quartz wool and deposited in the tube reactor. A gas mixture consisting of 10% *v*/*v* of H2 in Ar was fed in the TPR apparatus at a controlled flow rate of 40 mL/min. The sample was heated up to 1000 ◦C at a ramp rate of 2 ◦C/min in a temperature-controlled oven. The sensor was put in a cold trap Dewar flask containing isopropanol in liquid nitrogen in order to protect it from H2O formed during reduction. ChemiSoft TCx software (Micromeritics) was used to calculate the peak area which is proportional to H2 consumption.
