Effect of water vapor on catalytic oxidation of benzene with ozone on alumina-supported manganese oxides

The effect of water vapor on catalytic oxidation of benzene with ozone was studied over alumina-supported manganese oxides. Water vapor suppressed catalyst deactivation by inhibiting the build-up of organic byproducts on the catalyst surface, including formic acid and strongly bound surface formates. FTIR spectroscopic studies revealed that the surface formates were not completely oxidized with ozone in the absence of water vapor, whereas their oxidation with ozone was promoted by addition of water vapor.