The activity of the mixed copper-manganese oxides CuO-MnOx (1.5 < x < 2), o
btained by coprecipitation and activated at 300 degrees C, has been studied
for CO-NO and CO-NO-O-2 reactions. As shown by magnetic susceptibility dat
a, X-ray diffraction, FTIR spectra, and catalytic tests, an interaction bet
ween CuO and MnOx with formation of a disordered mixed oxide with a spinel-
like structure is the cause of the high activity of CuO-MnOx samples.
At ambient temperature (25 degrees C) both adsorption and interaction of CO
and NO become more intense with increasing atomic fraction of copper conte
nt Cu/Cu + Mn up to 0.53 (catalyst C5M5). For the most active sample C5M5,
the degree of NO conversion to N-2 attained with a CO + NO + O-2 + Ar mixtu
re is almost the same as that obtained with a CO + NO + Ar mixture. A Langm
uir-Hinshelwood mechanism is proposed for both (CO-NO and CO-NO2) interacti
ons at ambient temperature.
With increasing temperature under the conditions of a CO + NO + Ar mixture,
reduction of the catalyst surface starts. This leads in turn to depression
of the CO-NO reaction at temperatures up to 130 degrees C (low-temperature
region) and to progressive acceleration of the CO-NO reaction at temperatu
res above 130 degrees C (middle-temperature region). In the presence of oxy
gen (a CO + NO + O-2 + Ar mixture), CuO-MnOx catalysts have an even higher
activity over a wide temperature range (75-300 degrees C). (C) 1999 Academi
c Press.