Cu O-CeO2 catalysts for the CO preferential oxidation (CO PROX)

The aim of this work is to synthesize and characterize Cu-Ce catalysts prepared by homogeneous precipitation with urea and, also, to evaluate their catalytic activity for the preferential oxidation of CO.Cu-Ce precursors with different copper content were prepared (the atomic ratio of copper to total metal was varied between 0 and 60%). Upon mild thermal treatment under air atmosphere (T = 723 K) powders are readily converted into nano-CeO2 with high superficial area.The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, it was found that all of them contained CeO2 (cerianite), and only the sample with the highest copper content contained Cu O (tenorite).The samples were evaluated in the catalytic reaction of preferential oxidation of CO in the temperature range between 373 and 523 K.It was found that they are very active and selective.The best catalytic performance was shown by the catalysts with a copper to total metal ratio of 10 to 20%