Investigation of the Cu–Zr–Y oxides activity in the carbon black catalytic oxidation by differential thermal analysis and temperature programmed reduction

Different copper/zirconium-yttrium catalysts have been tested in carbon black oxidation reaction. Supported mainly on differential thermal analysis and temperature programmed reduction, two different mechanisms have been proposed to explain the catalytic results. In the absence of copper, it has been shown that Zr3+ ions and associated anionic vacancies are responsible to the catalytic enhancement observed in the mixed oxides, oxygen species being activated on these sites. Among mixed zirconia–yttria solids, ZrO2-5 mol%Y2O3 is the most active catalyst. Copper impregnation on these oxides leads to the formation of different copper species. Small particles of CuO in low interaction with the support, induce a catalytic improvement due to the highest reducibility of these species. Moreover, in order to be more efficient, CuO species should have some interactions with the support, since impregnated samples are more active than the simple mechanical mixtures.