Low-temperature catalytic oxidation of toluene using CeO2@MIL-101(Fe): Stability against water and SO2

Toluene, a volatile organic compound (VOC), poses significant environmental and health risks, necessitating efficient abatement technologies. This study explores the catalytic oxidation of toluene using CeO 2 -supported MIL-101(Fe) metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). A series of CeO 2 @MIL-101(Fe) catalysts with varying Ce loadings were synthesized and characterized through XRD, BET, XPS, SEM-EDS, HRTEM, H 2 -TPR, and in situ DRIFTS analyses. Among the synthesized materials, 6% CeO 2 @MIL-101(Fe) exhibited superior catalytic performance, achieving 90% toluene conversion (T 90 ) at 239 °C, alongside remarkable stability over 60 hours. The catalyst demonstrated high tolerance to water vapor and sulfur dioxide (SO 2 ), with full activity recovery after inhibitor removal. In situ DRIFTS and PTR-MS provided insights into the reaction mechanism, indicating that lattice oxygen plays a crucial role in toluene activation. The synergistic interaction between CeO 2 and MIL-101(Fe) enhances redox properties and oxygen mobility, improving catalytic efficiency. These findings offer valuable insights into designing robust, MOF-based catalysts for VOC removal, providing a promising approach to mitigating air pollution.