Catalytic applications of CuO loaded mesoporous CeO₂ and CuO loaded mesoporous CeO₂-ZrO₂ catalyst

Abstract

Copper oxide (CuO) loaded mesoporous ceria (CeO₂) and Copper oxide (CuO) loaded mesoporous ceria-zirconia (CeO₂-ZrO₂) catalysts are successfully synthesized for preferential oxidation of CO (CO-PROX) and autothermal steam reforming of methanol (ASRM). Mesoporous CeO₂ and mesoporous CeO₂-ZrO₂ as catalyst supports with high specific surface area and ordered structure are prepared via a nanocasting process by using MCM-48 as template. Deposition-precipitation technique is chosen to load various Cu contents (1 to 9 wt.%) on the synthesized mesoporous supports. The synthesized CuO loaded mesoporous CeO₂ (Cu-C) and CuO loaded mesoporous CeO₂-ZrO₂ (Cu-CZ) catalysts are characterized by N₂ adsorption-desorption, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, atomic absorption spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed reduction by H₂. The catalytic performance of Cu-C and Cu-CZ catalysts for the CO-PROX reaction in presence of excess hydrogen and autothermal steam reforming of methanol (ASRM) reaction are investigated. The Cu-C and Cu-CZ catalysts illustrate an excellent efficiency for these reactions.