Mechanochemical synthesis of copper manganese oxide for the ambient temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide

• Active CuMnYOX catalysts are prepared by mechanochemical synthesis.
• Grinding time strongly influences catalyst structure and activity.
• Extended grinding facilitates Cu migration into the Mn oxide lattice.

A series of copper manganese oxide catalysts have been prepared by mechanochemical grinding of carbonate precursors and tested for the low temperature oxidation of CO. It is shown that a 72 h grind time and heat treatment under oxygen is necessary to form active CuMn2O4 for the conversion of CO to CO2 at room temperature. Energy dispersive X-ray analysis mapping indicated that the degree of mixing was improved at longer grinding times. Contraction of the MnCO3 lattice, followed by X-ray diffraction, showed that grinding times in excess of 24 h were necessary for the near complete dissolution of Cu ions into the MnCO3 framework, which in turn facilitated the formation of CuMn2O4 upon calcination. This simple, clean and environmentally friendly synthesis shows how mixed metal oxides that are catalytically active at room temperature can be synthesized without employing aqueous precipitation techniques, which result in waste streams containing carbonate and nitrate contaminants.

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