New ceria-based catalysts for pollution abatement

In the present work, we describe the use of fluorite-structured solid solutions, based on mixtures of CeO₂/La₂O₃/Pr₂O₃, and similar systems, i.e. CeO₂/Ln₂O₃/Pr₂O₃ where Ln=Tb, Sm, and Gd as effective catalysts for methane combustion. Mixed lanthanide oxide doped ceria solid solutions were prepared using an evaporation method from nitrate precursors and were subsequently calcined to 1073 K. Sample characterisation was achieved using powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD) and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). PXRDs obtained subsequent to a 12 h calcination at 1073 K for 12 h all show peaks corresponding to a fluorite-based structure. There are no additional features suggestive of large-scale segregation or ordered superstructure formation. This was confirmed by Rietveld analysis which showed that the lattice possesses cubic nature with a=b=c=5.50 Å. Methane combustion tests show that the most effective catalysts are those lanthanide oxide doped ceria catalysts prepared with 5% Pr molar metal ratios. TPR experiments suggest PrO₂ is an essential component and both surface and bulk chemistries have important roles in catalytic activity.     

TPR and XRD studies of yttria-doped ceria/γ-alumina-supported copper oxide catalyst

Yttria-doped ceria (YDC) and pure ceria (CeO₂), respectively, were deposited on γ-alumina (γ-Al₂O₃) using the impregnation method; then, copper oxide was also supported on them by employing the impregnation method. For comparison, CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts were prepared in this work. The catalysts were characterized by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). For CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts, two TPR peaks, namely β and γ, were observed. These have been attributed to the reduction of highly dispersed copper oxide species and bulk-like copper oxide, respectively. For CuO/CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ and CuO/YDC/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts, four TPR peaks, namely ₁, ₂, β′ and γ′, could be observed. The peaks with lower peak temperatures as compared to those of β′ and γ′ peaks have been attributed to the reduction of interface-boundary copper oxide species that contact closely and interact strongly with the supported ceria or YDC. Crystal sizes calculated from XRD measurements confirmed that yttria (Y₂O₃) addition could lead to crystal growth of ceria and correspondingly enhance the dispersion of the supported copper oxide due to the partition of YDC crystallite. Hence, this work shows that supported YDC and ceria can act bi-functionally as a textural promoter as well as a structural promoter.     

Catalytic Properties of Ceria and CeO2-Containing Materials

Over the past several years, cerium oxide and CeO₂-containing materials have come under intense scrutiny as catalysts and as structural and electronic promoters of heterogeneous catalytic reactions. Recent developments regarding the characterization of ceria and CeO₂-containing catalysts are critically reviewed with a special focus towards catalyst interaction with small molecules such as hydrogen, carbon monoxide, oxygen, and nitric oxide. Relevant catalytic and technological applications such as the use of ceria in automotive exhaust emission control and in the formulation of SO _x reduction catalysts is described. A survey of the use of CeO₂-containing materials as oxidation and reduction catalysts is also presented.     

氧化铈基HCl氧化循环制Cl2催化剂研究进展

氯化氢催化氧化技术在副产氯化氢的处理和利用方面有着巨大的应用价值和良好的工业前景。CeO₂基催化剂因其廉价、不易烧结及抗氯化性能优良等诸多优点,被认为是目前最具有应用前景的氯化氢氧化催化剂之一。本文简要地介绍了氯化氢氧化制氯循环工艺,评述了近年来用于氯化氢氧化反应的CeO₂基催化材料,包括CeO₂催化剂、掺杂改性CeO₂催化剂以及CeO₂作助催化剂等。同时在文中还对CeO₂基材料催化HCl氧化的表面反应机理进行阐述。最后结合目前的研究现状,对如何进一步提升CeO₂基催化HCl氧化的反应活性进行了展望。     

Oxides of copper, ceria promoted copper, manganese and copper manganese on Al2O3 for the combustion of CO, ethyl acetate and ethanol

Combustion of CO, ethyl acetate and ethanol was studied over CuO_x/Al₂O₃, CuO_x–CeO₂/Al₂O₃, CuMn₂O₄/Al₂O₃ and Mn₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts. It was found that modification of the alumina with ceria before subsequent copper oxide deposition increases the activity for combustion of CO substantially, but the effect of ceria was small on the combustion of ethyl acetate and ethanol. The activity increases with the CuO_x loading until crystalline CuO particles are formed, which contribute little to the total active surface. The CuO_x–CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalyst is more active than the CuMn₂O₄/Al₂O₃ catalyst for the oxidation of CO but the CuMn₂O₄/Al₂O₃ catalyst is more active for the combustion of ethyl acetate and ethanol.

Thermal ageing and water vapour in the feed caused a modest decrease in activity and did not affect the CuO_x–CeO₂/Al₂O₃ and CuMn₂O₄/Al₂O₃ catalysts differently. In addition, no difference in intermediates formed over the two catalysts was observed.

Characterisation with XRD, FT-Raman and TPR indicates that the copper oxide is present as a copper aluminate surface phase on alumina at low loading. At high loading, bulk CuO crystallites are present as well. Modification of the alumina with ceria before the copper oxide deposition gives well dispersed copper oxide species and bulk CuO crystallites associated to the ceria, in addition to the two copper oxide species on the bare alumina. The distribution of copper species depends on the ceria and copper oxide loading. The alumina supported copper manganese oxide and manganese oxide catalysts consist mainly of crystalline CuMn₂O₄ and Mn₂O₃, respectively, on Al₂O₃.     

Gold nanoparticles supported on ceria-modified mesoporous titania as highly active catalysts for low-temperature water-gas shift reaction

New gold catalytic system prepared on ceria-modified mesoporous titania (CeMTi) used as water-gas shift (WGS) reaction catalyst is reported. Mesoporous titania (MTi) was synthesized using surfactant templating method through a neutral [C₁₃(EO)₆–Ti(OC₃H₇)₄] assembly pathway. Ceria modifying additive was deposited on MTi by deposition precipitation (DP) method. Gold-based catalysts with different gold content (1–5 wt.%) were synthesized by DP of gold hydroxide on mixed metal oxide support. The supports and the catalysts were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), N₂ adsorption analysis and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The catalytic behavior of the gold-based catalysts was evaluated in WGS reaction in a wide temperature range (140–300 °C) and at different space velocities and H₂O/CO ratios. The influence of gold content and particle size on the catalytic performance was investigated. The WGS activity of the new gold/ceria-modified mesoporous titania catalysts was compared with that of gold catalysts supported on simple oxides CeO₂ and mesoporous TiO₂, as well as gold/ceria-modified titania and reference catalyst Au/TiO₂ type A (World Gold Council). A high degree of synergistic interaction between ceria and mesoporous titania and a positive modification of structural and catalytic properties by ceria has been achieved. It is clearly revealed that the ceria-modified mesoporous titania is of much interest as potential support for gold-based catalyst. The Au/ceria-modified mesoporous titania catalytic system is found to be efficient catalyst for WGSR.     

Potential rare earth modified CeO2 catalysts for soot oxidation: I. Characterisation and catalytic activity with O2

Ceria (CeO₂) and rare-earth modified ceria (CeReO_x with Re = La, Pr, Sm, Y) catalysts are prepared by nitrate precursor calcination and are characterised by BET surface area, XRD, H₂-TPR, and Raman spectroscopy. Potential of the catalysts in the soot oxidation is evaluated in TGA with a feed gas containing O₂. Seven hundred degree Celsius calcination leads to a decrease in the surface area of the rare-earth modified CeO₂ compared with CeO₂. However, an increase in the meso/macro pore volume, an important parameter for the soot oxidation with O₂, is observed. Rare-earth ion doping led to the stabilisation of the CeO₂ surface area when calcined at 1000 °C. XRD, H₂-TPR, and Raman characterisation show a solid solution formation in most of the mixed oxide catalysts. Surface segregation of dopant and even separate phases, in CeSmO_x and CeYO_x catalysts, are, however, observed. CePrO_x and CeLaO_x catalysts show superior soot oxidation activity (100% soot oxidation below 550 °C) compared with CeSmO_x, CeYO_x, and CeO₂. The improved soot oxidation activity of rare-earth doped CeO₂ catalysts with O₂ can be correlated with the increased meso/micro pore volume and stabilisation of external surface area. The segregation of the phases and the enrichment of the catalyst surface with unreducible dopant decrease the intrinsic soot oxidation activity of the potential CeO₂ catalytic sites. Doping CeO₂ with a reducible ion such as Pr^4+/3+ shows an increase in the soot oxidation. However, the ease of catalyst reduction and the bulk oxygen-storage capacity is not a critical parameter in the determination of the soot oxidation activity. During the soot oxidation with O₂, the function of the catalyst is to increase the ‘active oxygen’ transfer to the soot surface, but it does not change the rate-determining step, as evident from the unchanged apparent activation energy (around 150 kJ mol⁻¹), for the catalysed and un-catalysed soot oxidation. Spill over of oxygen on the soot surface and its subsequent adsorption at the active carbon sites is an important intermediate step in the soot oxidation mechanism.     

Co3O4–CeO2 mixed oxide-based catalytic materials for diesel soot oxidation

Co₃O₄–CeO₂ type mixed oxide catalyst compositions have been prepared by using co-precipitation method and, their catalytic activity towards diesel particulate matter (PM)/carbon oxidation has been evaluated under both loose and tight contact conditions. These catalysts show excellent catalytic activity for PM/carbon oxidation, despite their low surface area. The activation energy observed for non-catalyzed and catalyzed reactions are 163 kJ/mol and 140 kJ/mol, respectively, which also confirm the catalytic activity of catalyst for carbon/soot oxidation. The promotional effects of an optimum amount of cobalt oxide incorporation in ceria and presence of a small amount of potassium appears to be responsible for the excellent soot oxidation activity of this mixed oxide type material. The catalytic materials show good thermal stability, while their low cost will also add to their potential for practical applications.     

Effect of dopants on the performance of CuO–CeO2 catalysts in methanol steam reforming

Steam reforming of methanol was carried out over a series of doped CuO–CeO₂ catalysts prepared via the urea–nitrate combustion method. XRD analysis showed that at least part of the dopant cations enter the ceria lattice. The addition of various metal oxide dopants in the catalyst composition affected in a different way the catalytic performance towards H₂ production. Small amounts of oxides of Sm and Zn improved the performance of CuO–CeO₂, while further addition of these oxides caused a decrease in catalyst activity. XPS analysis of Zn- and Sm-doped catalysts showed that increase of dopant loading leads to surface segregation of the dopant and decrease of copper oxide dispersion. The addition of oxides of La, Zr, Mg, Gd, Y or Ca lowered or had no effect on catalytic activity, but led to less CO in the reaction products. Noble-metal modified catalysts had slightly higher activity, but the CO selectivity was also significantly higher.     

Characterisation of rare earth oxide supported metal catalysts. Study of some ceria supported rhodium phases

The present work reports on the characterisation of several ceria supported rhodium catalysts. The selected reduction temperature were: 623 K and 773 K; the metal loading: 1% and 2.5%. The surface area of the two starting ceria samples used as support were: 20 m².g⁻¹ (LS) and 110 m².g⁻¹ (HS), respectively. The apparent H.Rh and CO/Rh were found to be quite different, which according to the results of the TPD study can be interpreted as due to the occurrence of strong adsorption of hydrogen on the support.

Upon reduction at 773 K the adsorption capabilities are notably reduced. The effect is much stronger in the case of the phases based on HS ceria. For Rh/CeO₂ (LS) catalysts, the metal dispersions determined by HRTEM agree fairly well with those estimated from CO adsorption. By contrast, over Rh/CeO₂ (HS) catalysts, the values determined by TEM were found to be larger than those deduced from chemisorption.

Taking into account that the reduction treatment leading to the Rh/CeO₂ (HS) induces strong sintering phenomena on the support and that this effect is negligible in the case of Rh/CeO₂ (LS), the results above have been interpreted assuming that the inhibition of the chemisorptive capacity of Rh/CeO₂ (HS) reduced at 773 K is primarily due to the encapsulation of the metal particles associated to the sintering occurred at the support. Reoxidation of the phases reduced at 773 K did not allow to recover the chemisorptive properties of the catalysts, which confirms that no classic SMSI occurs in the present case.     

The effect of CeO2 structure on the activity of supported Pd catalysts used for methane steam reforming

Palladium (Pd) supported on CeO₂-promoted γ-Al₂O₃ with various CeO₂ (ceria) crystallinities, were used as catalysts in the methane steam reforming reaction. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis, FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) were employed to characterize the samples in terms of Pd and CeO₂ structure and dispersion on the γ-Al₂O₃ support. These results were correlated with the observed catalytic activity and deactivation process. Arrhenius plots at steady-state conditions are presented as a function of CeO₂ structure. Pd is present on the oxidized CeO₂-promoted catalysts as Pd⁰, Pd⁺ and Pd²⁺, at ratios strongly dependent on CeO₂ structure. XRD measurements indicated that Pd is well dispersed (particles <2 nm) on crystalline CeO₂ and is agglomerated as large clusters (particles in 10–20 nm range) on amorphous CeO₂. FTIR spectra of adsorbed CO revealed that after pre-treatment under H₂ or in the presence of amorphous CeO₂, partial encapsulation of Pd particles occurs. CeO₂ structure influences the CH₄ steam reforming reaction rates. Crystalline CeO₂ and dispersed Pd favor high reaction rates (low activation energy). The presence of CeO₂ as a promoter conferred high catalytic activity to the alumina-supported Pd catalysts. The catalytic activity is significantly lower on Pd/γ-Al₂O₃ or on amorphous (reduced) CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts. The reaction rates are two orders of magnitude higher on Pd/CeO₂/γ-Al₂O₃ than on Pd/γ-Al₂O₃, which is attributed to a catalytic synergism between Pd and CeO₂. The low rates on the reduced Pd/CeO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts can be correlated with the loss of Pd sites through encapsulation or particle agglomeration, a process found mostly irreversible after catalyst regeneration.     

Steam reforming of ethanol over Co3O4/CeO2 catalysts prepared by different methods

In this paper, Co₃O₄/CeO₂ catalysts for steam reforming of ethanol (SRE) were prepared by co-precipitation and impregnation methods. The catalysts prepared by co-precipitation were very active and selective for SRE. Over 10%Co₃O₄/CeO₂ catalyst, ethanol conversion was close to 100% and hydrogen selectivity was about 70% at 450 °C. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and BET surface area measurements. The preparation method influenced the interaction between cobalt and CeO₂ evidently. The incorporation of Co ions into CeO₂ crystal lattice resulted in weaker interaction between cobalt and ceria on catalyst surface. In comparison with catalysts prepared by impregnation, more cobalt ions entered into CeO₂ lattice, and resulted in weaker interaction between active phase and ceria on surface of Co₃O₄/CeO₂ prepared by co-precipitation. Thus, cobalt oxides was easier to be reduced to metal cobalt which was the key active component for SRE. Meanwhile, the incorporation of Co ions into CeO₂ crystal lattice was beneficial for resistance to carbon deposition.     

Deactivation and regeneration of Pt/γ-alumina and Pt/ceria–alumina catalysts for methane combustion in the presence of H2S

Ceria has been widely explored as an additive in alumina-supported precious metal catalysts due to a number of unique properties. The success of ceria and ceria-based materials is mainly attributed to the unique combination of an elevated oxygen transport capacity coupled with the ability to shift easily between reduced and oxidised sates. In this study the influence of CeO₂ addition to a Pt/Al₂O₃ catalyst for low temperature (<540 °C) methane oxidation in an oxidising environment has been investigated. The resistance to H₂S-poisoning and influence on catalyst regeneration by oxidation or reductive treatments has been studied. The addition of CeO₂ to the support creates an increase in the level of activity based primarily on the oxygen storage capacity offered by the cerium oxide, causing an increase in oxygen activation. The ceria–alumina-supported catalyst showed a greater shift to poorer activity upon exposure to H₂S. It appears sulphur compounds react with the oxygen storage component causing a decrease in oxygen transfer, removing any benefit offered by the ceria. However, the level of Pt-agglomeration and support changes were reduced with the incorporation of ceria, emphasising the stabilising effect and promotion of metal particle dispersion associated with ceria. In order to obtain the maximum benefit of ceria addition to the support structure in terms of activity a reductive pretreatment is required. Upon exposure to a reducing atmosphere, it appears a Pt–CeO₂ interaction generates greater levels of activity.     

Catalytic performance of Co3O4/CeO2 and Co3O4/CeO2–ZrO2 composite oxides for methane combustion: Influence of catalyst pretreatment temperature and oxygen concentration in the reaction mixture

The influence of catalyst pre-treatment temperature (650 and 750 °C) and oxygen concentration (λ = 8 and 1) on the light-off temperature of methane combustion has been investigated over two composite oxides, Co₃O₄/CeO₂ and Co₃O₄/CeO₂–ZrO₂ containing 30 wt.% of Co₃O₄. The catalytic materials prepared by the co-precipitation method were calcined at 650 °C for 5 h (fresh samples); a portion of them was further treated at 750 °C for 7 h, in a furnace in static air (aged samples).

Tests of methane combustion were carried out on fresh and aged catalysts at two different WHSV values (12 000 and 60 000 mL g⁻¹ h⁻¹). The catalytic performance of Co₃O₄/CeO₂ and Co₃O₄/CeO₂–ZrO₂ were compared with those of two pure Co₃O₄ oxides, a sample obtained by the precipitation method and a commercial reference. Characterization studies by X-ray diffraction (XRD), BET and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) show that the catalytic activity is related to the dispersion of crystalline phases, Co₃O₄/CeO₂ and Co₃O₄/CeO₂–ZrO₂ as well as to their reducibility. Particular attention was paid to the thermal stability of the Co₃O₄ phase in the temperature range of 750–800 °C, in both static (in a furnace) and dynamic conditions (continuous flow). The results indicate that the thermal stability of the phase Co₃O₄ heated up to 800 °C depends on the size of the cobalt oxide crystallites (fresh or aged samples) and on the oxygen content (excess λ = 8, stoichiometric λ = 1) in the reaction mixture. A stabilizing effect due to the presence of ceria or ceria–zirconia against Co₃O₄ decomposition into CoO was observed.

Moreover, the role of ceria and ceria–zirconia is to maintain a good combustion activity of the cobalt composite oxides by dispersing the active phase Co₃O₄ and by promoting the reduction at low temperature.     

CO oxidation on Pd/CeO2–ZrO2 catalysts

The promotive effects of cerium oxide on commercial three-way catalysts (TWCs) for purification of motor exhaust gases have been widely investigated in recent years. This work shows the cooperative effects of CeO₂–Pd on the kinetics of CO oxidation over Pd/CeO₂–ZrO₂. Under reducing-to-moderately oxidizing conditions, a zero-order O₂ pressure dependence is found which can be interpreted on the basis of a mechanism involving a reaction between CO adsorbed on Pd and surface oxygen from the support. The high oxygen-exchange capability of the CeO₂–ZrO₂ support, as determined from temperature-programmed reduction/oxygen uptake measurements is suggested as being responsible for such a catalytic behavior.     

Effect of alternate CH4-reducing/lean combustion treatments on the reactivity of fresh and S-poisoned Pd/CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts

This work investigates the effect of treatments under different CH₄-containing atmospheres on the reactivity of fresh and S-poisoned 2% w/w Pd/Al₂O₃/CeO₂ catalysts for methane combustion.

Over the fresh catalyst the decomposition/reformation processes of PdO occurring during cycles of CH₄-reducing/lean combustion pulses allowed the complete recovery of activity losses possibly associated with H₂O poisoning which were observed during prolonged exposure under lean combustion conditions. The presence of CeO₂ markedly enhances both the activity losses under lean combustion conditions and the rate of PdO reoxidation/reactivation upon Pd redox cycle.

Under lean combustion conditions, regeneration of catalyst deactivated by exposure to SO₂-containing atmosphere required very high temperatures (above 750 °C) in order to decompose stable sulphate species adsorbed on the support. Treatments consisting of alternate CH₄-reducing/lean combustion pulses allowed a complete recovery of activity at much lower temperatures (550–600 °C) due to the reduction of sulphates by CH₄ activated on the surface of Pd metal. A protecting role of CeO₂ on Pd poisoning due either to exposure to SO₂-containing atmosphere or to spill-back of support sulphates species was also evidenced.     

CoB/CeO2催化剂的优化制备及在NaBH4液相制氢中的应用

为了提高硼氢化钠水解催化剂的活性与稳定性,本文采用化学还原和焙烧后处理制备了一系列CoB/CeO₂负载型催化剂,探究了该催化剂在NaBH₄液相释氢中的催化性能。通过扫描电镜、X射线衍射、X射线光电子能谱等表征手段分析了催化剂结构和组成,并结合催化剂在NaBH₄水解制氢中的催化活性,研究了不同焙烧后处理方式对CoB/CeO₂负载型催化剂体系的作用规律。结果表明CoB负载到CeO₂载体表面后催化剂仅呈现了CeO₂载体的萤石相结构,但针对活性组分对比分析表明在高温下（空气和氮气）仍然出现了CoB的显著晶化。CoB/CeO₂在空气和氮气焙烧气氛下都有利于提高CoB活性组分在CeO₂载体表面的固载强度,但是二者呈现出不同的微观形貌。在NaBH₄液相释氢中,CoB/CeO₂-air和CoB/CeO₂-N₂展示了显著不同的催化活性,并且随着焙烧温度的提高,二者催化性能差异更加明显,温度升高后CoB/CeO₂-air催化活性逐步降低,并在500℃左右完全失活,而CoB/CeO₂-N₂则呈现了趋于稳定的催化活性。     

The effect of ceria content on the performance of Pt/CeO2/Al2O3 catalysts in the partial oxidation of methane

The effect of CeO₂ loading (1–20 wt.%) on the properties and catalytic behaviors of CeO₂–Al₂O₃-supported Pt catalysts on the partial oxidation of methane was studied. The catalysts were characterized by S_BET, X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and oxygen storage capacity (OSC). XRD and TPR results showed that the pretreatment temperature of the support influences on the amount of CeO₂ with fluorite structure. The pretreatment temperature of the support and CeO₂ loading influenced the morphology of Pt. OSC analysis showed a significant increase in the oxygen storage capacity per weight of CeO₂ for samples with high CeO₂ loading (12 and 20 wt.%). TPR analyses showed that the addition of Pt promotes the reduction of CeO₂. This effect was more significant for the catalysts with high CeO₂ loading (≥12 wt.%). The dispersion of Pt, measured by the rate of cyclohexane dehydrogenation, increases with increasing of the pretreatment temperature of the support. It was shown that the kind of the support is very important for obtaining of catalysts resistant to carbon formation. The catalysts with high CeO₂ loading (≥12 wt.%) showed the highest catalytic activity and stability in the reaction of partial oxidation of methane due to a higher Pt–CeO₂ interface.     

Role of CeO2 in Ni/CeO2–Al2O3 catalysts for carbon dioxide reforming of methane

Ni catalysts supported on γ-Al₂O₃, CeO₂ and CeO₂–Al₂O₃ systems were tested for catalytic CO₂ reforming of methane into synthesis gas. Ni/CeO₂–Al₂O₃ catalysts showed much better catalytic performance than either CeO₂- or γ-Al₂O₃-supported Ni catalysts. CeO₂ as a support for Ni catalysts produced a strong metal–support interaction (SMSI), which reduced the catalytic activity and carbon deposition. However, CeO₂ had positive effect on catalytic activity, stability, and carbon suppression when used as a promoter in Ni/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts for this reaction. A weight loading of 1–5 wt% CeO₂ was found to be the optimum. Ni catalysts with CeO₂ promoters reduced the chemical interaction between nickel and support, resulting in an increase in reducibility and stronger dispersion of nickel. The stability and less coking on CeO₂-promoted catalysts are attributed to the oxidative properties of CeO₂.     

Preferential oxidation of carbon monoxide over Pt, Au monometallic catalyst, and Pt–Au bimetallic catalyst supported on ceria in hydrogen-rich reformate

The objective of this paper was to study a preferential oxidation (PROX) of carbon monoxide over monometallic catalysts including Pt, Au and Pt–Au bimetallic catalyst supported on ceria in hydrogen-rich reformate. Single step sol–gel method (SSG) and impregnation on sol–gel method (ISG) were chosen for the preparation of the catalysts. The characteristics of these catalysts were investigated by X-ray diffractometer (XRD), Brunauer–Emmet–Teller (BET) method, transmission electron microscope (TEM), scanning electron microscope (SEM) and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR). The XRD patterns of the catalysts showed only the peaks of ceria crystallite and no metal peak appeared. From TEM images, the active components were seen to be dispersed throughout the ceria support. The TPR patterns of PtAu/CeO₂ catalyst prepared by SSG showed the reduction peaks were within a low temperature range and therefore, the catalysts prepared by SSG exhibited excellent catalytic activity for preferential oxidation of CO. Bimetallic Pt–Au catalyst improved the activity (90% conversion and 50% selectivity at 90 °C) because of the formation of a new phase. When the metal content of (1:1) PtAu/CeO₂ catalyst prepared by SSG was increased, the CO conversion did not change much while the selectivity decreased in the low temperature range (50–90 °C). The CO conversion increased with increasing W/F ratio. The presence of CO₂ and H₂O had a negative effect on CO conversion and selectivity due to blocking of carbonate and water on active sites.