Cobalt Oxide Catalysts on Commercial Supports for N2O Decomposition

• Published in: Chemical engineering & technology Vol. 40; no. 5; pp. 981 - 990
• Main Authors: Klegová, Anna, Pacultová, Kateřina, Fridrichová, Dagmar, Volodarskaja, Anastasia, Kovanda, František, Jirátová, Květa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Frankfurt Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.05.2017
• Subjects: Absorption spectroscopy; Aluminum oxide; Atomic absorption analysis; Catalysts; Catalytic activity; Cobalt oxide catalysts; Cobalt oxides; Decomposition; Fourier analysis; Fourier transforms; Infrared spectroscopy; Magnesium; Mixed oxides; N2O decomposition; Nitrous oxide; Scanning electron microscopy; Shaped catalysts; Spectrometry; Tablets; Titanium oxides; X-ray diffraction
• ISSN: 0930-7516; 1521-4125
• DOI: 10.1002/ceat.201600628

Co3O4 oxide catalysts prepared on different commercial supports, namely, TiO2, Al2O3, and Mg‐Al mixed oxides with various Mg and Al concentrations, were characterized by atomic absorption spectrometry, Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller method, X‐ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and H2 temperature‐programmed reduction, tested for N2O decomposition, and compared with bulk Co3O4. In spite of the fact that Co3O4/70Mg30Al also contained hardly reducible compounds, it possessed the highest catalytic activity, probably due to the presence of active sites with easier reducibility and better dispersion of the active phase on the support contributing to a higher number of active sites. The conversion over Co3O4‐supported tablets is comparable with that of the same catalyst bed of bulk Co3O4 tableted catalyst. Cobalt‐based catalysts exhibit excellent activities for the decomposition of N2O, a pollutant contributing to the greenhouse effect. Difficulties in the formation of Co3O4 can be circumvented by supporting the active cobalt spinel phase on an appropriate support. Co3O4 oxide catalysts prepared on different commercial supports with various Mg and Al concentrations are characterized aiming at a catalyst for industrial application.