Evaluation and characterization of Mn–Cu mixed oxide catalysts supported on TiO2 and ZrO2 for ethanol total oxidation

MnCu/ZrO2T and MnCu/TiO2T (T = calcination temperature) catalysts were prepared by the sol–gel method with a Mn:Cu = 5:1 ratio and calcined at different temperatures, T = 673, 873 and 1073 K. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, measurement of specific surface area, temperature programmed reduction, XPS and FT-IR spectroscopy. For both groups of catalysts, the increase of calcination temperature produced three effects: the segregation of phases, an increase of the crystallinity, and a phase transformation of the support. The catalytic activity was evaluated in total oxidation of ethanol, considered as model molecule of VOC. The MnCu/TiO2 673 and MnCu/ZrO2 873 catalysts showed the best catalytic performance, which was associated with the high dispersion of the MnOx and CuOx active phases. The catalytic activity of MnCu/TiO2 673 catalyst was also favored by its high surface area.