Author(s)

Daniela Salinas^1*, Gina Pecchi¹, Vicente Rodríguez¹, José Luis García Fierro²

¹Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, University of Concepcion, Concepcion, Chile.
²Institute of Catalysis and Petrochemistry, ICP-CSIC, Cantoblanco, Madrid, Spain.

The catalytic activity in the soot combustion is reported for a series of potassium-promoter alumina supported catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method to be used in the catalytic combustion of soot. The studied systems correspond to CeO₂-Al₂O₃ and La₂O₃-Al₂O₃ with charges of 3 and 5 wt% of CeO₂ and La₂O₃. Potassium impregnation is performed to reach 3 atoms of K per nm² of the mixed oxide. The effect of the potassium incorporation increases its reducibility, decreases the surface area and forms a new type of oxygen that is stronger than the oxygen in mixed oxides with similar chemical nature. The existence of potassium oxides, K₂O and oxygen responsible for the vacancies and/or lattice defects (O²⁻) are related to good catalytic activity. Additionally, the presence of alkali affects the structural and textural characteristics of the catalyst, promoting the catalytic activity in soot combustion.

Sol-Gel, Potassium, Cerium, Lanthanum, Soot Combustion

Salinas, D. , Pecchi, G. , Rodríguez, V. and Fierro, J. (2015) Effect of Potassium on Sol-Gel Cerium and Lanthanum Oxide Catalysis for Soot Combustion. Modern Research in Catalysis, 4, 68-77. doi: 10.4236/mrc.2015.43009.