Zirconia-supported copper oxide - A catalyst for removal of vehicular exhaust gas pollutants

Copper oxide and zirconia-supported copper oxide catalysts were tested for their catalytic activity for carbon monoxide and propylene oxidation reactions. The synthesized catalyst was supported by wet impregnation on zirconia. The higher activity of zirconia-supported catalyst compared to unsupported catalyst may be attributed to homogeneous and higher dispersion on zirconia, ionic oxygen carrying capacity of zirconia. Catalyst 10% CuO/ZrO2 showed a best conversion efficiency of 90% at a temperature as low as 265 degrees C for CO oxidation. T-50 and T-100 for propylene oxidation on zirconia-supported copper oxide were 392 and 450 degrees C, respectively.