Synthesis and Characterization of Pd/La2O3/ZnO Catalyst for Complete Oxidation of Methane, Propane and Butane

The catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is the subject of considerable interest due to its applications in environmental protection. Noble metal-based catalysts are widely employed to remove toxic compounds from gas mixtures. The objective of the present study was the synthesis of a palladium-containing catalyst deposited on a support modified with La2O3 zinc oxide. The composite support was initially obtained by a simple method, and then palladium was deposited on it by impregnation. Various methods, including N2-physisorption, XRD, HRTEM, XPS, TPD, TPR, and FTIR, were used to characterize the material. The obtained catalyst was studied in the reaction of the complete oxidation of butane, propane, and methane. It was found that the addition of La2O3 to ZnO led to an improved pore texture. The catalytic tests showed that the reaction of the complete oxidation of butane on Pd/La2O3/ZnO proceeded at the lowest temperatures.