Mn-containing catalytic materials for the total combustion of toluene: The role of Mn localisation in the structure of LDH precursor

Mg/Mn/Al mixed oxide systems of similar atomic ratios close to 2/0.5/1 were obtained by calcination of Mg,Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) type precursors containing Mn either in the cationic form within the brucite layer or as permanganate anions in the interlayer. The materials were characterised with PXRD, thermal analysis, XPS, ESR, TPR and BET. In mixed oxides derived from interlayer-doped precursor PXRD identified MgO–MnO solid solution and poorly crystalline Al-rich spinel phase, while those obtained from layer-doped LDH contained a better crystalline Mn-rich spinel. Surface of both materials was covered with poorly crystalline and/or amorphous Mn⁴⁺-containing phases. Higher reducibility of this surface coat in calcined layer-doped catalyst, as compared to interlayer-doped one, was attributed to the differences in the nature of underlying crystalline phases, and was considered the chief reason for the higher catalytic activity of this catalyst in the total oxidation of toluene.