Cu/Fe hydrotalcite derived mixed oxides as new catalyst for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Cu/Fe mixed oxides (Cu/Fe-MOs) were prepared by calcination of Cu/Fe hydrotalcite (Cu/Fe-HT) precursors. They were used as new catalyst for thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate (AP) and their catalytic activity was studied by thermal gravimetric and differential thermal analysis. With the addition of 4 wt.% Cu/Fe-MOs, thermal decomposition of AP was accelerated by 104 degrees C. Higher catalyst addition favors further decomposition of AP. The catalytic activity order is: Cu/Fe-MOs-500>Cu/Fe-MOs-800>CuO center dot Fe2O3. The proposed catalytic mechanism is the presence of O-2(-) on the surface of Cu/Fe-MOs which can simplify thermal decomposition of AP. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.