Cerium–Copper–Manganese Oxides Synthesized via Solution Combustion Synthesis (SCS) for Total Oxidation of VOCs

Abstract: A set of cerium–manganese–copper oxide catalysts with various foreign metal contents was prepared via the solution combustion synthesis (SCS). The catalysts were characterized by complementary techniques such as N2 physisorption at − 196 °C, X-ray diffraction (XRD), field-emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), H2-temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), O2-temperature-programmed desorption (O2-TPD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their catalytic activity was tested towards the VOC oxidation using ethylene and propylene as probe molecules. As a whole, it has been observed that the Ce55Mn45 sample (Mn 45 at.%), containing MnOx clusters interacting with the ceria phase, was the most active catalyst for propylene oxidation, exhibiting a complete conversion at 250 °C. On the other hand, the ternary oxide catalyst (Ce55Mn22.5Cu22.5 with Mn = 22.5 at.% and Cu = 22.5 at.%) has exhibited the best results for the oxidation of ethylene. These findings suggest that the co-presence of different active phases on the catalytic surface may have a beneficial (multiplicative) role on the whole reactivity. Finally, the most active powder catalysts were wash-coated in a SiC monolith and tested in a bench-scale reactor. As a whole, the catalyzed monoliths performed the complete oxidation of either ethylene or propylene at lower temperatures (550 and 450 °C, respectively) than those required to thermally decompose these molecules. Graphic Abstract: [Figure not available: see fulltext.].