Experimental Study of Benzene Catalytic Combustion over Cu–Mn‐Ce/Al2O3 Particles

Abstract Low concentration benzene is one of major components of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which pollutes atmosphere. In this study, the influence of addition of cerium(Ce) and manganese(Mn) on alumina supported copper catalyst(Cu/γ‐Al 2 O 3 ) for benzene combustion is studied, using X‐ray diffraction pattern (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) coupled with Energy‐dispersive X‐ray (EDX), hydrogen‐temperature programmed reduction(H 2 ‐TPR) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR). The Cu−Mn‐Ce catalyst with a molar ratio of 1:1.5:0.5 and 10% capacity exhibited catalytic performance with calcination temperature of 600 °C and gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) which is less than 2 h −1 . Ce improves the formation of lattice oxygen(O latt ) while Mn is beneficial for the augment of surface oxygen(O sur ) and adsorbed oxygen(O ads ). Synergistic effect of Mn and Ce can further increase the content of surface oxygen and adsorbed oxygen, which improves catalytic activity. The inferred benzene combustion process is as follows: break of the C−H bound→ the breakage of benzene ring through the breaking of the C−C bond and the C=C bond→ generation of water and carbon dioxide.