Room temperature oxidation of formaldehyde on Pt-based catalysts: A comparison between ceria and other supports (TiO2, Al2O3 and ZrO2)

• The role of support in formaldehyde oxidation of Pt catalysts was investigated.
• The support contributes to the adsorption and activation of HCHO.
• Catalytic activity is in the order Pt/Al2O3 > Pt/ZrO2 > Pt/CeO2 > Pt/TiO2.
• Al2O3 is the best support due to its high surface area and OH availability.
• Supporting Pt on CeO2 results in partially oxidized particles with lower catalytic performance.

Platinum-based catalysts for the room temperature removal of formaldehyde are prepared on ceria and other supports (TiO2, Al2O3 and ZrO2) for comparison, starting from chloride and nitrate precursors. The behaviour towards formaldehyde adsorption and oxidation is evaluated by means of temperature-programmed desorption (TPD), temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) and catalytic tests. The results indicate that the catalytic performances are affected by Pt oxidation state, which, in turn, strongly depends on the properties of the support. In order to obtain high HCHO conversions, the support should guarantee the accessibility to metal active sites as well as affinity for water. Moreover, to avoid Pt partial oxidation, non-reducible oxides are preferable to reducible ones.

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