Complete oxidation of volatile organic compounds over Ce/Cu/gamma-AL2O3 catalyst

The effect of cerium (Ce) addition into Cu (5, 10 or 15 wt%)/gamma-Al2O3 catalysts on the catalyst properties and catalytic activity was investigated for the complete oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). X-ray diffraction (XRD), the Brunauer Emmett Teller method (BET), temperature programmed reduction (TPR) by H2, and N2O pulse titration were used to characterize a series of supported copper catalysts modified with cerium. Cerium was observed to be an inhibitor for 5 wt% and promoter for 10 or 15 wt% Cu/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. The results of TPR, average crystallite size and dispersion indicated that even though Ce loadings on 10 and 15 wt% Cu/gamma-Al2O3 caused a reduction in BET surface area of the catalysts, the loaded amounts of Ce enhanced the catalytic activity through the formation of highly dispersed copper clusters. Kinetic parameters were developed for individual benzene, toluene and o-xylene (BTX) for 5 wt% Ce/10 wt% Cu/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst at temperatures ranging from 210 to 240 degrees C. The Mars and Van Krevelen model was found to be an adequate description of the catalytic oxidation of BTX for this study. The activity sequence with respect to the BTX molecules was found to be benzene > toluene > o-xylene under the surface-reaction-controlled region.