Influence of Ethanol Washing in Precursor on CuO–CeO2 Catalysts in Preferential Oxidation of CO in Excess Hydrogen

In this study, influence of ethanol washing in precursor on CuO–CeO2 catalysts in preferential oxidation of CO in excess hydrogen (PROX) was investigated. BET, FTIR and TPR techniques were used. The results showed that ethanol washing was beneficial to improve the catalytic performance of CuO–CeO2 catalysts in the PROX. The CO conversion over CuO–CeO2 catalysts without ethanol washing was only 85% at 190 °C, while the highest CO conversion over CuO–CeO2 catalysts with 200 mL ethanol washing was beyond 99% at 120 °C. XRD and TPR results showed that ethanol washing depressed the growth of CuO–CeO2 catalysts and improved the reducibility of CuO–CeO2 catalysts. The FTIR measurement proved that the absorption water was decreased by the way of ethanol washing, indicating that the amount of the H–O–H bridge between adsorption water and precursor of CuO–CeO2 catalysts was decreased and depressed the growth of CuO–CeO2 catalysts.