Oxidation of Thiophene over Copper and Manganese Based Oxides Modified with Pt and Pd

Copper and manganese-based catalysts (5%Cu/Al2O3,5%Mn/Al2O3) modified with different amount of Pt or Pd (0.2 or 1 wt.%) have been studied in oxidation of thiophene. The activity experiments reveal that samples containing Cu display higher activity for thiophene oxidation in relation to manganese-based catalysts. It is shown that lower activity of Mn catalyst is accompanied by pronounced non-homogenous distribution of Mn phase on the catalyst surface and lower reducibility. Furthermore, catalytic and reduction behaviour of monometallic catalysts is influenced by the presence of small amounts of Pt or Pd, suggesting synergism of the components of bimetallic catalysts.