Removal of oxygenated volatile organic compounds by catalytic oxidation over Zr-Ce-Mn catalysts

The composition-activity relationship of Zr-Ce-Mn-O materials was investigated for the catalytic removal of Oxygenated Volatile Organic Compounds (OVOC) emitted by stationary sources. Using a sol-gel method, very high surface specific areas, small crystallite sizes and high redox properties were obtained for Zr(0.4)Ce(0.6-x)Mn(x)O(2) catalytic systems after calcination at 500°C. The textural and redox properties were improved when Mn content increased in the material, especially for x=0.36. As a result the most active and selective catalyst in the butanol (model of OVOC) oxidation was obtained for the nominal composition Zr(0.4)Ce(0.24)Mn(0.36)O(2) due to a high oxygen mobility and surface Mn(4+) concentration.