Characterization of a ceria-zirconia-supported Cu oxides catalyst: An FT-IR study on the catalytic oxidation of propylene

A study on the structural and morphological characterization of a ceria-zirconia-supported copper oxide (with nominal composition CuOx/Ce0.5Zr0.5O2) and on its catalytic activity for the oxidation of propylene is reported. XRD and spectroscopic analyses show that the supported phase is highly dispersed over the support constituted by a fluorite-like ceria-zirconia solid solution. FT-IR spectra of adsorbed pyridine evidence the presence of Lewis acid sites. Propylene reacts with the catalyst surface and according to a Mars van Krevelen mechanism giving rise upon increasing the temperature to propanal, propanoate, small amounts of acrylate, acetate plus formiate and finally CO2.