Effect of the addition of rare earths on the activity of alumina supported copper cobaltite in CO oxidation, CH4 oxidation and NO decomposition

The effect of the addition of small amounts of rare earths (Ln=La, Ce, Nd and Gd) to alumina supported copper-cobalt spinel oxide on the catalysts efficiency in CO and CH4 oxidation and in NO decomposition was investigated. Samples of Ln/CuCo/Al catalyst were prepared and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS), scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), H2-temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy and low temperature nitrogen adsorption. The results showed that the addition of rare earths changed the surface state of the alumina supported copper-cobalt spinel catalyst. As a result, partial reduction of copper species was observed as well as migration of these species between the surface and the bulk. The Ln/CuCo/Al catalysts behaved differently in oxidation and reduction processes. In oxidation processes where oxide structure was important, Ce/CuCo/Al and Nd/CuCo/Al were the most active catalysts. The catalyst Ce/CuCo/Al was the most active in the oxidation reactions because of the availability and favorable surface distribution of the redox couples Cu+/Cu2+ and Ce3+/Ce4+. In NO decompostion, Ln-modified catalysts significantly improved the selectivity of the process to N2.

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