Additional effects of cobalt precursor and zirconia support modifications for the design of efficient VOC oxidation catalysts

The influence of the ZrO₂ support modification by Y₂O₃ and the presence of ethylenediamine (“en”) during the preparation of Co/ZrO₂ were studied and compared with a reference catalyst conventionally prepared by impregnation of ZrO₂ with an aqueous solution of Co(NO₃)₂. The effect of the en/Co molar ratio (x = 1–3) was studied. Activation of cobalt species was followed by differential thermal and thermogravimetric analyses (DTA/TG) analyses and by specific surface area measurements which evidence the complete cobalt precursor decomposition at 450 °C, whatever the support composition and the en/Co molar ratio. The addition of an aqueous solution of ethylenediamine to a cobalt nitrate solution led to a strong increase in the catalytic activity of the activated solids for the toluene deep oxidation as compared to the reference catalyst. The best catalytic results were explained in terms of cobalt oxides dispersion (X-ray diffraction (XRD)) and also in terms of Co-support interaction (H₂-temperature-programmed reduction (TPR)). The generated cobalt species were reducible at much lower temperatures and were more active in the toluene total oxidation. Finally, an efficient catalyst was produced combining the modifications of the support by yttrium oxide and of the precursor (use of ethylenediamine).