Insights into the Behaviors of the Catalytic Combustion of Propane over Spinel Catalysts

Abstract

The behaviors of C3H8 catalytic combustion were investigated over spinel AB2O4 (AB2O4 prepared by co-precipitation method) with two transition metal (A and B are both transition metal elements) and single transition metal (A is transition metal element). Results showed that the spinel AFe2O4 (A = Ni, Cu) owned superior catalytic activities than the spinel AAl2O4 (A = Ni, Cu). In combination with XRD, SEM, Raman, XPS and H2-TPR, it could be deduced that higher activity was dependent on abundant surface oxygen vacancy and adsorbed oxygen species. The oxygen activation was enhanced by the doping of another transition metal in B sites of AB2O4. As a result, the catalytic performance was promoted. Among as-prepared catalysts, NiFe2O4 owned more superior activity and hydrothermal stability for C3H8 combustion than noble metal catalyst. It is expected to be applicable in the removal of VOCs. Due to the B-site transition metal doping, the surface oxygen activation behavior of the spinel catalyst can be modulated, which makes AFe2O4 have a higher propane catalytic activity than AAl2O4.