Study on catalytic combustion of benzene over cerium based catalyst supported on cordierite

A series of MnCeOx catalysts supported on cordierite honeycomb (Cord) were prepared by a combustion synthesis method using Mn(NO3)2, Ce(NO3)2·6H2O and citric acid. The effect of the molar ratio of Mn/Ce, calcination time, the amount of citric acid and the effect of water vapor on the catalytic properties for the complete oxidation of benzene were investigated. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2 temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), O2 temperature programmed desorption (O2-TPD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The results indicated that the MnCeOx/Cord catalyst with Mn/Ce molar ratio of 1:1, calcining for 7 h and Mn+/(citric acid) molar ratio of 6 exhibited the highest catalytic activity. When the concentration of benzene was 1500 ppm and the gaseous hourly space velocity was 20000 h−1, the conversion of toluene was 99.1% at the reaction temperature of 300 –C.