Mesoporous CuO/TiO2 catalysts prepared by the ammonia driven deposition precipitation method for CO preferential oxidation: Effect of metal loading

Abstract

Supported CuO catalysts onto a highly crystalline mesoporous TiO2 material are produced via an ammonium driven deposition precipitation method and tested for preferential oxidation of CO in H2-rich gases. The effect of Cu loading on the oxidation activity is investigated by producing samples with final Cu content varying between 2.5 and 10 wt%. According to the analysis results, the chemical nature of the CuO species differs in each sample depending on the Cu loading. All materials tested are highly selective towards CO oxidation up to 160 °C. The 5 wt% Cu loaded material demonstrates the optimum CO-PROX performance, which is ascribed to the formation of finely dispersed and easily reducible copper oxide nanoparticles. Stability and durability of the latter sample are assessed by performing multiple testing cycles corresponding to >100hrs on stream as well as by the separate and combined addition of CO2 and H2O in the feeding stream.