Ozone-enhanced deep catalytic oxidation of toluene over a platinum-ceria-supported BEA zeolite catalyst

Deep catalytic oxidation of toluene in low concentrations by ozone on a supported Pt-Ce/BEA catalyst using a facile preparation method was investigated. The catalyst was prepared using a simple grinding and calcination process, and then characterized by inductively coupled plasma elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, H-2 temperature programmed reduction, O-2 and toluene temperature programmed desorption, and ultraviolet Raman spectroscopy. The characterization results showed that Pt nanoparticles and CeO2 intimately contacted on the surface of the catalyst, and a strong interaction occurred between them. The catalyst was employed for toluene oxidation with ozone because a strong interaction occurs between the Pt NPs and CeO2. We aimed to investigate the interaction between the Pt NPs and CeO2; thus, we compared the three catalysts. Pt-Ce/BEA exhibited superior catalytic performance ( > 99% toluene conversion and > 99% CO2 selectivity at 90 degrees C) compared to Pt/BEA (85% toluene conversion and 63% CO2 selectivity) and Ce/BEA ( > 99% toluene conversion and 59% CO2 selectivity). The strong interaction between the Pt nanoparticles and CeO2 increased the amount of oxygen vacancy and thus improved the ozone decomposition activity, which yielded more active oxygen species and contributed to the toluene oxidation.