CuO/CeO2 washcoated ceramic monoliths for CO-PROX reaction

CuO/CeO2 catalysts, with 7 and 9 wt% copper loading was prepared by wet impregnation, and later was washcoated over cordierite monoliths in order to study their performance in CO-PROX reaction. The powder sample with low copper loading shows high concentration of easily reducible copper species. SEM images of the monoliths show an average thickness of 9 and 12 mu m of the catalyst layer for 7% and 9% copper containing samples. EDX analyses suggested that copper has been deposited non-uniformly on the ceria surface. In the absence of CO2 and H2O, monolith washcoated with 7% Cu loaded catalyst shows better performance than its 9% counterpart in terms of activity and selectivity towards CO2 in CO-PROX reaction. However, CO2 substantially inhibits the activity and selectivity of both monoliths, in particular 7% Cu loaded catalyst. Also, H2O inhibits the activity and selectivity of both monoliths, although in lower extent than that of CO2. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.