AuPd/3DOM TiO2 Catalysts: Good Activity and Stability for the Oxidation of Trichloroethylene

• Published in: Catalysts Vol. 8; no. 12; p. 666
• Main Authors: Zhang, Xing, Liu, Yuxi, Deng, Jiguang, Zhang, Kunfeng, Yang, Jun, Han, Zhuo, Dai, Hongxing
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel MDPI AG 01.12.2018
• Subjects: 3D ordered macroporous titanium dioxide; Adsorption; AuPd alloy nanoparticle; By products; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Catalytic converters; Catalytic oxidation; Chemical reactions; Chlorine; chlorine-containing volatile organic compounds; Conversion; Decomposition; Gold; Intermetallic compounds; Low temperature; Metal oxides; Moisture resistance; Nanoparticles; Noble metals; Oxidation; Palladium; Polymethyl methacrylate; Polyvinyl alcohol; Pore size; Spectrum analysis; Stability; Strong interactions (field theory); supported AuPd catalyst; Tetrachloroethylene; Titanium dioxide; Trichloroethylene; trichloroethylene oxidation
• ISSN: 2073-4344; 2073-4344
• DOI: 10.3390/catal8120666

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous (3DOM) TiO2-supported AuPd alloy (xAuyPd/3DOM TiO2 (x = 0.87–0.91 wt%; y = 0.51–1.86)) catalysts for trichloroethylene (TCE) oxidation were prepared using the polymethyl methacrylate-templating and polyvinyl alcohol-protected reduction methods. The as-prepared materials possessed a good-quality 3DOM structure and a surface area of 49–53 m2/g. The noble metal nanoparticles (NPs) with a size of 3–4 nm were uniformly dispersed on the surface of 3DOM TiO2. The 0.91Au0.51Pd/3DOM TiO2 sample showed the highest catalytic activity with the temperature at a TCE conversion of 90% being 400 °C at a space velocity of 20,000 mL/(g h). Furthermore, the 0.91Au0.51Pd/3DOM TiO2 sample possessed better catalytic stability and moisture-resistant ability than the supported Au or Pd sample. The partial deactivation induced by H2O introduction of 0.91Au0.51Pd/3DOM TiO2 was reversible, while that induced by CO2 addition was irreversible. No significant influence on TCE conversion was observed after introduction of 100 ppm HCl to the reaction system over 0.91Au0.51Pd/3DOM TiO2. The lowest apparent activation energy (51.7 kJ/mol) was obtained over the 0.91Au0.51Pd/3DOM TiO2 sample. The doping of Au to Pd changed the TCE oxidation pathway, thus reducing formation of perchloroethylene. It is concluded that the high adsorbed oxygen species concentration, good low-temperature reducibility, and strong interaction between AuPd NPs and 3DOM TiO2 as well as more amount of strong acid sites were responsible for the good catalytic activity, stability, and water- and HCl-resistant ability of 0.91Au0.51Pd/3DOM TiO2. We believe that 0.91Au0.51Pd/3DOM TiO2 may be a promising catalyst for the oxidative elimination of chlorine-containing volatile organics.