Efficient catalytic oxidation of HCl to recycle Cl2 over the CuO–CeO2 composite oxide supported on Y type zeolite

•CuO–CeO2/Y catalyst exhibits high stability for gas-phase HCl catalytic oxidation to Cl2.•CuO–CeO2/Y shows exceptionally high catalytic efficiency (62.7 mmol gcat−1 h−1 at 410 °C).•High CuO dispersion and strong CuO–CeO2 association ensure high activity.•Possible pathways of HCl oxidation on CuO–CeO2/Y are proposed.

The CuO–CeO2 composite oxides supported on Y-zeolite were prepared by means of wet-impregnation method. The derived catalysts exhibited excellent activities and high stabilities for gas-phase HCl catalytic oxidation to Cl2. 90% conversion of HCl can be accomplished at a reaction temperature as low as 390 °C. Comparing with the results reported in literature, the CuO(12)–CeO2(13)/Y catalyst developed in the current study showed exceptionally high space time yield for Cl2 (62.7 mmol gcat−1 h−1 at 410 °C). A correlation between the characterization results and the activities of CuO–CeO2/Y suggested that higher content of well dispersed CuO species and intensive CuO–CeO2 association (the formed CuxCe1−xO2−y and surface oxygen spillover) are critical to determine high activity.

Graphical abstractCuO–CeO2/Y exhibited excellent activities and high stabilities for gas-phase HCl catalytic oxidation to Cl2. A correlation between the characterization results and the activities of CuO–CeO2/Y suggested that higher content of well dispersed CuO species and intensive CuO–CeO2 association are critical to determine high activity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide