In-Situ DRIFTS Study on Catalytic Oxidation of Formaldehyde over Pt/TiO2 under Mild Conditions

The adsorption and oxidation of formaldehyde over 1%Pt/TiO2 under ambient conditions were investigated by in-situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS), and the deactivation of the catalyst was analyzed. It was found that formaldehyde could be oxidized to H2O and CO2 over Pt/TiO2 at ambient temperature, and the decomposition of formate was the key step below 100 degrees C. The catalyst deactivation at low temperature was attributed to the overcast of active sites by the formate that was failed to be decomposed in time. Nevertheless, the formate on Pt/TiO2 could be decomposed completely by increasing the reaction temperature to 100 degrees C, and the catalyst activity could be recovered simultaneously.