Catalytic combustion of toluene with a novel mixed Cu-Mn oxides catalyst supported on cordierite

The catalytic combustion of toluene over mixed Cu-Mn oxides supported on cordierite is investigated in this paper. The catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness method and characterized by XRD, BET and TEM. Five kinds of cordierite-type compounds containing different amounts of Cu²⁺ and Mn²⁺ ions were prepared (the mole ratio of Cu²⁺:Mn²⁺ varied as follows: 1:1, 1:2, 1:4, 2:1 and 4:1). Calcination of the precursors at 500°C resulted in mixed oxides and all calcined materials proved extremely active in catalytic combustion of toluene, in which the Cu²⁺:Mn²⁺ 1:2 (forming CuMn₂O₄) was found to have the highest activity for toluene oxidation and T_90% was about 200°C. The objective of this study was to investigate the catalytic properties of Cu-Mn/cordierite catalysts prepared at different mole ratios, in order to obtain some information to prepare an efficient and highly active catalyst for catalytic combustion of volatile organic compounds at low temperature.