Glucose-assisted hydrothermal preparation and catalytic performance of porous LaFeO3 for toluene combustion

Porous LaFeO3 (LFO) samples with surface areas of 15-26 m(2)/g and orthorhombic structures were prepared via a glucose-assisted hydrothermal route. Physicochemical properties of the materials were characterized by means of a number of techniques, and their catalytic activities were evaluated for toluene combustion. It is found that the sample (LFO-170) derived at a hydrothermal temperature of 170 degrees C possessed the highest surface area and surface oxygen concentration and the best low-temperature reducibility. Among the LFO samples, the LFO-170 sample showed the best performance for toluene combustion, giving the T-10%, T-50%, and T-90% of 180, 250, and 270 degrees C at space velocity=20,000 mL/(g h), respectively. The apparent activation energies of the LFO samples were 50-55 kJ/mol. We believe that the high surface area and surface oxygen concentration and good low-temperature reducibility were responsible for the good catalytic performance of the LFO-170 sample. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.