Cerium-Copper Oxides Synthesized in a Multi-Inlet Vortex Reactor as Effective Nanocatalysts for CO and Ethene Oxidation Reactions

In this study, a set of CuCeOx catalysts was prepared via the coprecipitation method using a Multi-Inlet Vortex Reactor: the Cu wt.% content is 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60. Moreover, pure CeO2 and CuO were synthesized for comparison purposes. The physico-chemical properties of this set of samples were investigated by complementary techniques, e.g., XRD, N-2 physisorption at -196 degrees C, Scanning Electron Microscopy, XPS, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy and H-2-TPR. Then, the CuCeOx catalysts were tested for the CO and ethene oxidation reactions. As a whole, all the prepared samples presented good catalytic performances towards the CO oxidation reaction (1000 ppm CO, 10 vol.% O-2/N-2): the most promising catalyst was the 20%CuCeOx (complete CO conversion at 125 degrees C), which exhibited a long-term thermal stability. Similarly, the oxidative activity of the catalysts were evaluated using a gaseous mixture containing 500 ppm C2H4, 10 vol.% O-2/N-2. Accordingly, for the ethene oxidation reaction, the 20%CuCeOx catalyst evidenced the best catalytic properties. The elevated catalytic activity towards CO and ethene oxidation was mainly ascribed to synergistic interactions between CeO2 and CuO phases, as well as to the high amount of surface-chemisorbed oxygen species and structural defects.