Supported Au catalysts for low-temperature abatement of propene and toluene, as model VOCs: Support effect

In this work gold nanoparticles supported over ceria (Au/CeO 2), titania (Au/TiO 2), alumina (Au/Al 2O 3) and Ce doped alumina (Au/7.5Ce/Al 2O 3) were prepared by deposition-precipitation (DP) method with NaOH solution and characterized by BET, XRD, H 2-TPR, TEM and XPS techniques. The catalytic activity was evaluated in the total oxidation of propene and toluene, chosen as model VOC molecules. The attention was focused on the catalyst stability. To this aim, three consecutive catalytic cycles in propene and toluene oxidation were performed for each catalyst. The activity trend was Au/CeO 2>Au/7.5Ce/Al 2O 3>Au/TiO 2>Au/Al 2O 3. Over Au/CeO 2, the most active catalyst, a long-term propene oxidation test running for 50h, at low-temperature, 135°C was also carried out. Characterizations XRD and XPS were carried out on the spent catalyst after three catalytic runs in propene oxidation. The results were discussed in terms of structural, electronic, catalytic and reduction properties as a function of the nature of the support. © 2010 Elsevier B.V.