Catalytic combustion of benzene over metal oxides supported on SBA-15

The catalytic combustion of benzene over metal oxides supported on SBA-15 was investigated. The catalysts were prepared by the incipient wetness method and characterized by XRD, BET, TEM, ESR and TPR. The calcined siliceous SBA-15 and CuO/SBA-15 samples displayed well-resolved patterns with a sharp peak at about 1.0°. It is clear that the loading of CuO on the silica matrix drastically decreases the surface area and pore volume of the catalysts, as would be expected for the incorporation of CuO. Among the supported metal oxides, CuO supported on SBA-15 was found to have the highest activity for benzene oxidation. In addition, copper oxide supported on SBA-15 gives higher catalytic activity than copper oxide supported on MCM-41. From the ESR results, the CuO dispersed on the SBA-15 acts as the active site of the CuO/SBA-15 catalysts in the oxidative decomposition of benzene. The catalytic activity gradually increases with increasing CuO loading on SBA-15.