Copper manganese oxide catalysts for ambient temperature carbon monoxide oxidation: Effect of calcination on activity

The effect of the preparation conditions of a hopcalite (copper manganese oxide) catalyst is investigated for the oxidation of carbon monoxide at ambient temperature. In the present study the hopcalite is prepared by coprecipitation from an aqueous solution of copper and manganese nitrates. The activity of hopcalite materials is principally affected by two features, namely the surface area and the phase composition. Both of these features are controlled principally by the conditions used for the calcination that is required to activate the precursor, formed initially from coprecipitation. High activity is observed for materials that retain high surface area and are not crystalline. The interplay between these features and the calcination conditions is described and discussed, in particular using surface area corrected conversion data to ensure that the influence of the two features are separated.

Graphical abstractHopcalite CuMnOx, prepared by coprecipitation from an aqueous solution of copper and manganese nitrates, is very active for CO oxidation at ambient temperature. The activity is principally affected by two features, namely the surface area and the phase composition. Both of these features are controlled by the temperature used for the calcination.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide