COMBUSTION OF FORMALDEHYDE ON RUTHENIUM CERIUM(IV) OXIDE CATALYST

Catalytic combustion of formaldehyde was carried out on supported precious metals. Ruthenium supported on CeO2 was the most active, and it completely oxidized formaldehyde at 200-degrees-C without producing formic acid. The IR analysis indicated that formaldehyde was decomposed on this catalyst even at room temperature to produce intermediate species. However, as the desorption of these intermediates from the catalyst surface was rather difficult at room temperature, it required higher temperatures to attain the steady-state combustion of formaldehyde. Ruthenium oxide easily lost its lattice oxygen by interaction with formaldehyde, which explained the high activity of this supported ruthenium catalyst.