Synthesis of mesoporous Co/Ce-SBA-15 materials and their catalytic performance in the catalytic oxidation of benzene

Cerium-containing SBA-15 mesoporous materials, with different Ce/Si molar ratios, were synthesized by a direct hydrothermal synthesis method and further modified by impregnation with 10, 15 and 20 wt.% Co. Characterizations by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), N2 sorption, inductively coupled plasma (ICP) and UV–vis spectroscopy were carried out. The small-angle XRD and N2 sorption characterizations showed that these Co supported materials have less-ordered mesoporous structures with partial blockage of pores, and their specific surface area, pore volume and pore size were relatively lower than those of unsupported cerium-containing SBA-15. Spinel Co3O4 constituted the predominant cobalt phase in the prepared catalysts, and CeO2 was also detected. All the Co supported catalysts exhibited high catalytic activity in the oxidation of benzene.