Catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide over copper-Cerium mixed oxide catalysts: Effect of catalyst preparation method

Carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from biomass combustion pose a serious global health risk, especially in regions reliant on wood-burning stoves for cooking and heating. Efficient catalytic oxidation is therefore essential to mitigate these emissions. This study evaluates Cu-CeO2 catalysts synthesised by co-precipitation (CP) and wet impregnation (IMP) for CO oxidation at temperatures relevant to biomass combustion (50–450 °C). Physicochemical characterisation revealed that the preparation route significantly altered the catalysts’ redox behaviour, oxygen mobility and surface acidity. These features directly influenced catalytic activity, with the IMP catalyst achieving complete CO conversion at ∼125 °C and displaying high stability under extended time-on-stream operation, while the CP catalyst showed comparatively lower activity. The IMP catalyst also exhibited higher resistance to coke formation, supporting its reusability across multiple cycles. These findings underline the importance of catalyst preparation in tuning performance and demonstrate the potential of Cu-CeO2 as a sustainable, cost-effective solution for CO emission control in domestic combustion systems.