Search Results (153)

Emission control of diesel particulate matter (soot) combustion is important for environmental reasons. Catalysts are indispensable for optimizing these processes, as they significantly reduce the combustion temperature. In this work, mixed oxides (cerium–copper, cerium–manganese, and cerium–molybdenum) were prepared by co-precipitation under reasonably similar synthesis conditions, and the effects of their chemical composition on diesel soot combustion were evaluated using the Printex U model particulate. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) and temperature-programmed oxidation coupled with mass spectrometry (TPO/MS) were employed for activity characterization. Structural analyses revealed the presence of nanocrystalline phases containing CeO₂ (fluorite), CuO (monoclinic), Mn₂O₃ (cubic), and MoO₃ (orthorhombic), depending on the catalyst composition. The most effective catalysts exhibited an equimolar oxide composition (CeO₂–MO_x). Tests performed at optimized calcination temperatures and with the addition of promoters led to the identification of optimal combustion conditions. The highest activity, corresponding to the lowest combustion temperature, was observed in the following order: CeO₂–Mn₂O₃ > CeO₂–CuO > CeO₂–MoO₃, with values of 382, 409, and 425 °C, respectively, under tight-contact conditions at a Printex U:catalyst ratio of 1:20. With the addition of a 10% Ag₂O promoter, the CeO₂–Mn₂O₃ catalyst further reduced the oxidation temperature to 376 °C. Reusability tests generally indicated a 10–20% decrease in catalytic activity by the third reaction cycle. Full article

Partial oxidation of methane is a highly attractive route for hydrogen-rich syngas production, provided that high H₂ yields and H₂/CO ratios above 3 can be achieved. Herein, we demonstrate that precise compositional tuning of Ni–Cu bimetallic catalysts supported on Gd-doped CeO₂ enables direct control over defect chemistry and reaction pathways in partial oxidation of methane. A systematic investigation of Ni/Cu ratios was conducted to elucidate composition–structure–activity relationships using X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction/oxidation/desorption, and thermogravimetric analysis. While monometallic 5%Ni/GDC and promoted 1%Re4%Ni/GDC exhibited high methane conversion, they failed to deliver optimal hydrogen selectivity. In contrast, introducing Cu within a narrow compositional window fundamentally altered the reaction mechanism. The 2.5%Ni2.5%Cu/GDC catalyst showed limited oxygen vacancy formation and pronounced carbon deposition, leading to inferior catalytic performance. Remarkably, the 3.5%Ni1.5%Cu/GDC catalyst maximized both oxygen vacancy density and surface basicity, thereby selectively activating CO₂- and H₂O-assisted oxidation routes and enforcing the exclusive dominance of indirect POM pathways. This defect-mediated pathway control effectively decoupled methane activation from hydrogen-consuming side reactions while simultaneously promoting hydrogen-forming, CO-consuming reactions, most notably the water–gas shift reaction. As a result, the optimized 3.5%Ni1.5%Cu/GDC catalyst achieved an H₂ yield of 84% with an H₂/CO ratio of 3.11 and maintained stable operation for 40 h on stream at 600 °C. These findings establish Ni–Cu compositional tuning as a powerful strategy for defect engineering and reaction pathway regulation, providing new design principles for efficient and durable partial oxidation of methane catalysts targeting hydrogen-rich syngas production. Full article

Incomplete diesel combustion emits soot and CO. The use of biomass-derived, oxygen-containing diesel additives has been proposed as an effective mitigation strategy. Among these, long-chain ethers have been widely regarded as one of the most promising additive classes. Guided by this, carbonyl compounds were targeted as intermediates for the synthesis of long-chain ethers. Py-GC/MS was used to assess eight oxides (CaO, ZrO₂, NiO, CeO₂, TiO₂ (rutile), TiO₂ (anatase), Fe₂O₃, CuO) during fast pyrolysis of native holocellulose. Relative content of carbonyl compounds was increased by all catalysts, with CaO exhibiting the highest value (69.47%). CaO raised the content of linear ketones from 18.25% to 27.61%, while it sharply reduced the relative content of acetic acid (from 11.56% to 3.19%). TiO₂ (rutile) increased cyclic ketones from 11.09% to 15.01%. CuO boosted furans and acids to 17.48% and 17.91%, respectively. Levoglucosan dropped from 11.24% to 4.83% over CuO, which also increased furfural content from 3.25% to 5.63%. Full article

Synthesis of anionic metal–organic framework Na[Ce(BDC)₂(DMF)₂] based on cerium (III)–sodium terephthalate was performed. The crystal structure, studied by the Rietveld method, consists of anionic [Ce(BDC)₂]⁻ layers, connected by interlayer sodium cations in a 3D network. Variable-temperature PXRD, total X-ray scattering with pair distribution function analysis, and DFT calculations revealed framework structure stability upon DMF elimination and thermal treatment up to 300 °C. Modification with copper cations was performed using wetness impregnation with a Cu(NO₃)₂ methanol solution to obtain a catalyst for carbon monoxide oxidation. Cu²⁺@Na[Ce(BDC)₂(DMF)₂] in situ decomposition leads to the catalytic activity of the resulting CuO/CeO₂ composite during CO gas oxidation by air. Full article

Two copper-containing perovskites Ba_0.8Mn_0.7Cu_0.3O₃ and Cu(4 wt%)/Ba_0.7MnO₃ (selected from previous studies) were tested as catalysts for the CO oxidation reaction under conditions similar to the found in the exhaust of last-generation automotive internal combustion engines. The Cu(4 wt%)/Ba_0.7MnO₃ sample has been selected due to its higher tolerance to CO₂. In order to optimize the performance of this sample for the reaction under study, a Cu(2 wt%)Ce(2 wt%)/Ba_0.7MnO₃ formulation was synthesized, characterized and tested. The excellent catalytic performance of the bimetallic formulation, in terms of CO conversion at low temperatures and tolerance to CO₂, is because cerium improves the redox properties and increases the proportion of reduced copper species on the surface compared to the Cu(4 wt%)/Ba_0.7MnO₃ sample. Full article

This study presents a comprehensive characterization of monometallic (Co or Cu) and bimetallic (Co-Cu) catalysts supported on cerium oxide (CeO₂). XRD and TEM analyses revealed that crystallinity decreases after reduction and that metal dispersion is highly dependent on composition, with cobalt exhibiting greater dispersion than copper. The results confirmed a strong interaction between the metals and CeO₂, which alters the ceria structure and facilitates the reduction of the metal oxides. H₂-TPR and XPS data indicated that monometallic and the bimetallic 15Cu15Co catalysts achieved nearly complete reduction, whereas other bimetallic catalysts did not. Furthermore, CO chemisorption and H₂-TPD demonstrated that the hydrogen activation capacity correlates with the degree of catalyst reduction. Notably, bimetallic catalysts did not show enhanced hydrogen activation compared to their monometallic counterparts. This suggests that the dispersion and metal–support interaction are more critical factors for catalytic activity in this system than the formation of metal alloys. Although the furfural conversion was complete, the selectivity depended greatly on the catalyst composition. The 30Co_R catalyst was most selective for 1,5-pentanediol (38.4%), the 30Cu_R catalyst for 1,2-pentanediol (22.1%), and the bimetallic catalysts for THFA. Reutilising the 30Co_R catalyst after five catalytic cycles resulted in a gradual reduction in the selectivity of 1,5-pentanediol. Full article

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) emissions pose environmental and health risks. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is effective for NO_x removal, and using CO as a reductant can eliminate both NO_x and CO. This study explores CuCe catalysts on SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and TiO₂ for CO-SCR. Results show catalytic activity relates to the synergy between lattice oxygen and CuCe species. TiO₂ enhances this interaction, promoting Cu⁺ and lattice oxygen for NO adsorption and dissociation. The CuCe/TiO₂ catalyst achieves 100% NO conversion at 300 °C and 40.2% at 100 °C, indicating excellent low-temperature performance. These findings are valuable for developing efficient SCR catalysts. Full article

In this experiment, NiCo₂O_x catalysts, with different elements added (Mg, Fe, Cu, and Ce), were prepared using the co-precipitation method to investigate their catalytic performance for carbon monoxide, as well as their water resistance and sulfur resistance. Combined with the sintering flue gas environment of Baosteel Zhanjiang Iron and Steel Co., Ltd., it provides a reference for the catalytic oxidation of CO in complex environments. The results reveal that the Fe-added catalysts exhibited a better CO catalytic performance and possessed good redox properties, and the Fe metal ion-added NiCo₂O_x catalysts showed a CO catalytic efficiency of 91.72% at 100 °C. Meanwhile, the Fe-added catalysts had the strongest resistance to water, with a conversion of 98.37% to CO at 140 °C, and with 10% water vapor. The Ce-added catalyst showed a better SO₂ resistance and hybrid resistance of SO₂ and H₂O. Under the condition of sulfur addition, the CO conversion of the Ce-added catalyst was as high as 63.07% after 4 h of SO₂ introduction, and the efficiency could be restored to 100% after cutting off the supply of SO₂. Under the conditions of sulfur addition and water addition, the CO conversion of the catalyst was 98.23% after cutting off the SO₂. Full article

Previous studies have shown that fats, oils, and greases (FOG) can be deoxygenated to fuel-like hydrocarbons over inexpensive alumina-supported Ni catalysts promoted with Cu or Fe to afford excellent yields of renewable diesel (RD). In this study, supports other than alumina—namely, SiO₂-Al₂O₃, Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O₂, and ZrO₂—were investigated to develop catalysts showing improved RD yields and resistance to coke-induced deactivation relative to Al₂O₃-supported catalysts. Results showed that catalysts supported on Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O₂ and ZrO₂ outperformed SiO₂-Al₂O₃-supported formulations, with 20%Ni-5%Fe/ZrO₂ affording a quantitative yield of diesel-like hydrocarbons. Notably, the abundance of weak acid sites varied considerably across the different supports, and a moderate concentration of these sites corresponded with the best results. Additionally, temperature-programmed reduction measurements revealed that Ni reduction is greatly dependent on both the identity of the promoter and catalyst support, which can also be invoked to explain catalyst performance since metallic Ni is identified as the likely active site for the deoxygenation reaction. It was also observed that Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O₂ provides high oxygen storage capacity and oxygen mobility/accessibility, which also improves catalyst activity. Full article

This study addresses energy transition challenges through the development of NiCuCe catalysts for high-purity hydrogen production via methanol decomposition, with carbon deposition issues mitigated by CO₂-assisted regeneration. As fossil fuel depletion advances and the urgency of climate change increases, methanol-derived hydrogen (CH₃OH → CO + 2H₂) emerges as a carbon-neutral alternative to conventional fossil fuel-based energy systems. The catalyst’s dual Cu²⁺/Ni²⁺ active sites facilitate selective C–O bond cleavage, achieving more than 80% methanol conversion at temperatures exceeding 280 °C without the need for fossil methane inputs. Crucially, CO₂ gasification enables catalyst regeneration through the conversion of 90% carbon deposits into reusable media, circumventing energy-intensive combustion processes. This dual-function system couples carbon capture to hydrogen infrastructure, thereby stabilizing production while valorizing waste CO₂. This innovation minimizes reliance on rare metals through efficient regeneration cycles, mitigating resource constraints during energy crises. Full article

Global municipal solid waste (~2B tons/year) affects sustainability, as landfill and incineration face persistent leachate contamination, demanding effective management to advance water recycling and circular economies. Accelerated investigation of hybrid biocatalytic ozonation systems is imperative to enhance contaminant removal efficiency for stringent discharge compliance. This study investigates the catalytic ozonation effects of γ-Al₂O₃-based catalysts loaded with different metals (Cu, Mn, Zn, Y, Ce, Fe, Mg) on the biochemical effluent of landfill leachate. The catalysts were synthesized via a mixed method and subsequently characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). Pseudo-second-order kinetics revealed active metal loading’s impact on adsorption capacity, with Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ and Mg/γ-Al₂O₃ achieving the highest Q_e (0.85). To elucidate differential degradation performance among the catalysts, the ozone/oxygen gas mixture was introduced at a controlled flow rate. Experimental results demonstrate that the Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst, exhibiting optimal comprehensive degradation performance, achieved COD and TOC removal efficiencies of 84.5% and 70.9%, respectively. UV–vis absorbance ratios revealed the following catalytic disparities: Mg/γ-Al₂O₃ achieved the highest aromatic compound removal efficiency; Ce/γ-Al₂O₃ excelled in macromolecular organics degradation. EEM-PARAFAC analysis revealed differential fluorophore removal: Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ exhibited broad efficacy across all five components, while Mg/γ-Al₂O₃ demonstrated optimal removal of C2 and C4, but showed limited efficacy toward C5. These findings provide important insights into selecting catalysts in practical engineering applications for landfill leachate treatment. This study aims to elucidate catalyst formulation-dependent degradation disparities, guiding water quality-specific catalyst selection to ultimately enhance catalytic ozonation efficiency. Full article

The oxidation of 1,2-propanediol (1,2-PDO) under alkaline heterogeneous catalysis can be optimized to produce lactic acid, a valuable commodity chemical. In this study, Pd nanoparticles supported on various metal oxides (CeO₂, CuO, ZrO₂, ZnO, SnO₂) were synthesized via a wet-chemistry method. Furthermore, CeO₂-supported Pd nanoparticle catalysts were prepared using different reduction methods. The catalytic performance for the selective oxidation of 1,2-PDO was evaluated using a range of characterization techniques. Under optimal conditions (120 °C, 1.0 MPa O₂ pressure, 2 h reaction time, and a NaOH/1,2-PDO molar ratio of 3.0), a high lactic acid yield of 62.7% was achieved. Single-factor experiments revealed that lactic acid selectivity decreased with prolonged reaction time. Conversely, increasing temperature, NaOH concentration, and O₂ pressure initially enhanced lactic acid selectivity, but further increases resulted in a decline. Physicochemical characterization revealed that different supports and reduction methods affect the basicity of the catalyst, which subsequently influences the selectivity of the target product, lactic acid. Full article

A metal-doped modified CO oxidation catalyst with strong adsorption and water resistance for coalbed methane was prepared by the CO precipitation method. The CO ablation characteristics were tested, and the Cu Mn catalyst synthesized by metal Ce doping achieved an instantaneous ablation efficiency of 80% when in contact with CO at room temperature. By analyzing the surface crystal structure and pore characteristics, as well as by testing the ablation properties, it was found that the CO oxidation catalyst synthesized by Ce had the best effect at a precipitation temperature of 70 °C. A water-resistant CO oxidation catalyst was synthesized by adding polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). After storage at a relative humidity of 90%, it still had a CO adsorption rate of about 85%. The water-resistant CO oxidation catalyst prepared with polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) as an additive had a higher content of CeO₂ crystal nuclei, and the PVA-added CO oxidation catalyst had the best ablation characteristics. In the evaluation of the water-resistant steam ablation process, the CuMnO_x-Ce-PVA catalyst showed a significant increase in intermediate products during the stress process under water vapor conditions and a decrease in the peak value of the catalyst’s binding to water, and the catalyst has a particular inhibitory influence on the adsorption of water molecules on its surface. Due to its outstanding water resistance, the catalyst was able to retain good ablation characteristics. Full article

Electrocatalytic synthesizing of urea through C-N coupling of CO₂ and NO₃⁻ under ambient conditions is a possible solution for the problem of energy consumption in commercial urea production. Herein, we report a Cu-doped CeO₂ catalyst anchored on delaminated MXene two-dimensional surface. The Cu-CeO₂/MXene catalyst achieves the co-reduction of CO₂ and NO₃⁻ to synthesize urea, obtaining a urea yield rate of 505.1 μg·h⁻¹·mg_cat.⁻¹ with a Faradic efficiency (FE) of 6.3% at −0.8 V versus reversible hydrogen electrode (vs. RHE). Theoretical calculations further demonstrate that Cu doping is capable of enhancing the activity of Cu-Ce sites and promoting C-N coupling and protonation reactions. Full article

Improving the dispersion of Cu_xO species is critical for enhancing the catalytic performance of Cu_xO/CeO₂ catalysts in the preferential oxidation of CO. Herein, the 10Cu_xO/CeO₂ catalyst was synthesized using a combined approach of one-step thermal decomposition and precipitation methods. A series of characterization results indicate that the CeO₂ support we prepared is rich in defect sites, which not only enhance the interaction between CeO₂ and Cu_xO, but also promote the generation of more active Cu⁺ sites while reducing the strength of the Ce−O bond. Raman spectroscopy and in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) demonstrated that the weakened Ce–O bonds promote the extraction of lattice oxygen, thereby enhancing the carboxyl reaction pathway. Consequently, the highly dispersed 10Cu_xO/CeO₂ catalyst exhibits remarkably high catalytic activity for the oxidation of CO over a broad operating temperature range (i.e., CO 100% conversion, 95–215 °C). This study represents an important advancement toward the facile synthesis of highly active transition-metal oxide catalysts. Full article