Alumina-supported LaCoO3 perovskite for selective CO oxidation (SELOX)

Perovskite-type LaCoO3 oxide was prepared using Pechiniʹs method and supported on alumina using a physical mixture and thermal treatment in order to obtain catalysts with different perovskite loadings (10, 20 and 40 wt.%). The catalysts were characterized by different methods and their catalytic potential was tested in the selective CO oxidation reaction (SELOX). Characterizations indicated that structural properties of LaCoO3 did not change after supporting on the alumina and that the perovskite structure is resistant to reduction in the temperature range of SELOX reaction. The most active catalysts were the supported 40% LaCoO3/Al2O3 and LaCoO3. The supported catalyst presented ca. twice as many metallic surface area than the unsupported sample, which suggests also twice as many perovskite at the surface and therefore higher activity. These results evidence that the supported perovskite oxides are very good alternative for SELOX reaction when compared to noble metal supported catalyst.