Non-noble CuO-CeO2/Nb2O5 catalysts for low-temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide

Abstract

There is disclosed a highly efficient and economical catalyst for carbon monoxide (CO) oxidation at low temperatures, using a non-noble transition metal composition of copper oxide (CuO), cerium oxide (CeO2), and niobium oxide (Nb2O5). The catalyst, designated as 10CuCeNb, is synthesized via the wet impregnation method and is composed of with 10% CuO—CeO2 supported on Nb2O5. It shows a significantly improved performance with full CO conversion achieved at relatively low temperature of 150° C. It demonstrates high stability over a 12-hour reaction time. The activation energy (Ea) is 23.1 kJ mol−1, supporting low-temperature CO oxidation with minimal energy input. The catalyst's high activity and stability are attributed to the formation of oxygen vacancies and active Lewis acid sites generated from the synergistic interaction between CuO, CeO2, and Nb2O5. This catalyst offers a cost-effective alternative to noble metal catalysts for use in catalytic converters, effectively reducing CO emissions in industrial and environmental applications.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.