Title:Role of Cadmium Addition in Promoting the Direct N<sub>2</sub>O Decomposition of Co<sub>3</sub>O<sub>4</sub> Spinel
VOLUME: 9 ISSUE: 2
Author(s):B.M. Abu-Zied*, S.A. Soliman and S.E. Abdellah
Affiliation:Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut, Chemistry Department, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, 71516 Assiut
Keywords:N2O decomposition, nitrous oxide, spinels, Cd promoted Co3O4, Cd-doping, calcination temperature.
Abstract:
Background: Increased environmental protection concerns urge more effort to develop
new catalysts for the abetment of greenhouse gases. N2O is known as a powerful greenhouse gas.
The literature review revealed that various catalysts have been developed for the direct decomposition
of N2O. Special attention was given to the cobalt-based spinel oxides. However, there is a
lack of information about the performance of the cadmium promoted spinels for N2O abetment.
Objective: This paper addresses the nitrous oxide direct decomposition over a novel series of Cd-
Co catalysts.
Method: These catalysts, with Cd/(Cd + Co) ratios 0.00-0.333, were prepared with the aid of the
co-precipitation route, which is followed by calcination at 500 °C. Characterization of these catalysts
was performed employing TGA-DTA, XRD, FTIR, N2 adsorption/desorption, and atomic absorption
spectrophotometry.
Results: Phase analysis revealed the absence of a solid-state interaction between CdO and Co3O4.
However, it was found that increasing the Cd/(Cd + Co) ratio is associated with continuous enhancement
of the N2O decomposition activity. The activity was correlated with the presence of
catalyst’s redox couples. Moreover, the role of the Cd presence in improving the activity was discussed.
Finally, the activity performance change accompanying the calcination temperature raise
was also investigated.
Conclusions: Presence of cadmium has a positive effect on the N2O decomposition performance
of Co3O4. Activity increased continuously with Cd/(Cd + Co) ratio increase over the examined
range 0.083–0.333 structural, textural, and electronic roles of cadmium were proposed.
