Total oxidation of naphthalene using copper manganese oxide catalysts

• Copper manganese oxides are active for total catalytic oxidation of naphthalene.
• A disordered CuMn2O4 phase is the most active and selective to CO2.
• More highly crystalline CuMn2O4 phases are less active and also form partial oxidation products.

A series of copper manganese oxide catalysts have been investigated for the total oxidation of naphthalene, selected as a model compound for oxidation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons. Catalysts were prepared by coprecipitation and were calcined at 300, 400, 500 and 600 °C. The catalyst most active and selective towards CO2 was calcined at 400 °C, and this was related to the formation of a high surface area poorly crystalline CuMn2O4 phase. Catalysts calcined at 500 and 600 °C were less effective in oxidising naphthalene to CO2, and their composition of more highly crystalline CuMn2O4, with Mn2O3 for the 600 °C catalyst, formed partial oxidation products. There was also a direct relationship between the extent of reduction from temperature programmed reduction and catalyst performance.

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