Performance and Reaction Mechanism of Zeolite‐Supported Cu‐Based Catalysts for CH ₃ OH Catalytic Oxidation

ABSTRACT Methanol is increasingly adopted as a clean alternative fuel in the shipping industry. However, its incomplete combustion leads to the emission of harmful pollutants, such as unburned CH 3 OH, calling for efficient aftertreatment solutions. Catalytic oxidation offers a promising pathway for converting methanol into harmless products, with the development of high‐performance catalysts, being essential to its practical application. In this work, a series of zeolite‐supported Cu‐based catalysts were prepared via impregnation and tested for methanol oxidation between 150°C and 450°C. Cu/ZSM‐5 showed outstanding activity, reaching 90% methanol conversion at 189°C and generating only trace by‐products above 240°C. Characterization indicated that the superior performance of Cu/ZSM‐5 originated from its high Cu 2+ content, abundant surface‐adsorbed oxygen, and concentration of weak basic sites. In situ DRIFTS studies further confirmed that the reaction follows the pathway CH 3 OH → CH 3 O − → HCHO → HCOO − → CO 2 , with HCOO − acting as a key surface intermediate. These findings underscore the potential of Cu/ZSM‐5 as a cost‐effective and efficient catalyst for methanol emission control.