Catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over gold/iron hydroxide catalyst at ambient conditions

Catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide at ambient conditions has been studied over gold/iron hydroxide catalysts. The catalyst was prepared by a precipitation method, in which the HAuCI4 Was precipitated onto a suspension of the iron hydroxide support, with a low calcination temperature. The support was composed of the mixture of iron hydroxide and iron oxide, the specific surface area was greater than 200 m(2)/g. The catalytic activity of the oxidized gold species was more efficient than zero-valent gold atoms (Au-0). The requirements of gold catalyst to have high oxidation activity are small particle size, a reductive support with high surface area, low calcination temperature, and gold particles in intimate contact with the support. The catalysts showed high activity for the oxidation of CO within 10,000 ppm at ambient temperature under a very high space velocity of 5,00,000 h(-1). This catalyst had the lifetime of at least 200 h. It was resistant to moisture and high concentration of CO2. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.