Support effect on the structure and CO oxidation activity of Cu-Cr mixed oxides over Al2O3 and SiO2

Abstract Cu-Cr based catalysts supported on silica and alumina with 5 wt% total loading of (CuO + Cr2O3), in different molar ratios, were prepared by wet impregnation. The samples were studied by nitrogen adsorption isotherms (BET), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Their catalytic activity was tested in the CO oxidation reaction. Different structures were obtained in dependence of the support, the atomic ratio and the calcination temperature. In particular, whereas on Al2O3 there was no experimental evidence for interaction between Cu and Cr, over the silica supported systems formation of new phases CuCr2O4 and CuCrO…