Influence of the MgCo2O4 Preparation Method on N2O Catalytic Decomposition

MgCo2O4 spinel catalysts were prepared via the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) and coprecipitation (CP) methods. The produced powder catalysts were. characterized by XRD, BET, FESEM, TPD, and XPS. The performance of these catalysts toward the decomposition of N2O to N-2 and O-2 was evaluated in a temperature programmed reaction (TPRe) apparatus in the absence and in the presence of oxygen (W/F = 0.03 g.s/cm(3)). The catalyst prepared by the CP method has been found to provide the best activity; the half conversion temperature (T-50) of nitrous oxide was 380 and 415 degrees C in the absence and in the presence of oxygen, respectively. The MgCo2O4 spinet catalysts were directly deposited, by in situ SCS and CP, over ceramic honeycomb monoliths and tested :in a lab-scale test rig. Again in this case, a prevalent activity of the catalytic monolith prepared by CP has been observed. The higher activity of the catalyst prepared by CP could be correlated with its higher surface area and its higher capacity of enriching the surface with the more reactive suprafacial, weakly chemisorbed, oxygen species.