Synthesis, characterization and catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over cobalt oxide

A mix-valenced cobalt oxide, CoOx, was prepared from cobalt nitrate aqueous solution through a precipitation with sodium hydroxide and an oxidation by hydrogen peroxide. Further, other pure cobalt oxide species were refined from the CoOx by temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) at 170, 230 and 300 degreesC (labeled as R-170, R-230 and R-300, respectively). They were characterized by X-ray (XRD), infrared (IR), thermogravimetry (TG) and TPR. The major composition of CoOx is CoO(OH), with a small amount of Co4+ species; R-170 is CoO(OH) with a hexagonal structure; R-230 is Co3O4 with a spinel structure and R-300 is CoO with a cubic structure. Their catalytic activities toward the CO oxidation were further studied in a continuous flow microreactor. The results indicated that the relative activity decreased significantly with the oxidation state of cobalt, i.e., CoO (+2) greater than or similar to Co3O4 (+8/3) >> CoO(OH) (+3) greater than or similar to CoOx (> +3).