High performance of Cu/CeO2-Nb2O5 catalysts for preferential CO oxidation and total combustion of toluene

Copper-based catalysts supported on niobium-doped ceria have been prepared and tested in the preferential oxidation of CO in excess of H2 (PROX) and in total oxidation of toluene. Supports and catalysts have been characterized by several techniques: N2 adsorption, ICP-OES, XRF, XRD, Raman Spectroscopy, SEM, TEM, H2-TPR and XPS, and their catalytic performance has been measured in PROX, with an ideal gas mixture (CO, O2 and H2) with or without CO2 and H2O, and in total oxidation of toluene. The effects of the copper loading and the amount of niobium in the supports have been evaluated. Remarkably, the addition of niobia to the catalysts may improve the catalytic performance in total oxidation of toluene. It allows us to prepare cheaper catalysts (niobia it is far cheaper than ceria) with improved catalytic performance.

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support from MINECO (Spain, Project MAT2010-21147)8/346) and Generalitat Valenciana (PROMETEOII/2014/004). EVRF thanks the MINECO for his Ramón y Cajal Fellow RYC-2012-11427. EOJ thanks the CNPq –Brazil for her grant.