Low-temperature catalytic combustion of benzene over Ni–Mn/CeO2/cordierite catalysts

The catalytic combustion of benzene over a Ni–Mn mixed oxide supported on cordierite coated with CeO2 was investigated. The catalysts were prepared using a sol–gel method and characterized using BET, H2-TPR, XRD, SEM and TEM. The catalysts calcined at 500 °C for 7 h with a Ni/Mn molar ratio of 1 exhibited the highest catalytic activity. When the concentration of benzene was 4.8 g/m3 and the GHSV was 15,000 h−1, the conversion was 94.3% at 300 °C. These results were primarily attributed to the catalyst structure and the synergistic activity of the NiMnO3 perovskite and crystalline CeO2.