Synthesis of a binuclear copper(II) compound and its use as a copper source for preparation of an environmental catalyst

Binuclear copper(II) compound [Cu2(NTA)(phen)3]NO3·6H2O was synthesized (NTA = nitrilotriacetate, phen = 1,10-phenanthroline), and characterized by single crystal X-ray diffraction and thermal gravimetric analyses. This compound used as a copper source was decomposed on MnOx-CeO2 in N2 at 400 °C and subsequently in air at 500 °C to obtain a Cu/MnOx-CeO2 catalyst. The results of catalytic activity test showed that compared with a referential Cu/MnOx-CeO2 catalyst prepared using conventional copper nitrate as a precursor, the obtained Cu/MnOx-CeO2 catalyst exhibited higher catalytic activity toward complete oxidation of formaldehyde. Analyses by BET and XRD techniques revealed that CuO with smaller particle sizes was highly dispersed on the external surface of the MnOx-CeO2 mixed oxide, which was responsible for its higher catalytic activity.