Removal of toluene using cobalt oxide supported on sepiolite catalysts was investigated. Deposition precipitation method was used to prepare the catalysts. The catalysts were characterized using X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller methods. The results of catalytic testing showed that 20% cobalt oxide/sepiolite (Co20/Sep) had higher catalytic activity for degradation of toluene. A temperature of 400 ºC was found to be the optimum calcination temperature for Co20/Sep, since it achieved 90% toluene conversion at about 300 ºC. The results showed that the selectivity of the catalysts towards CO2 was complete and no byproducts were detected. Stability tests also indicated that Co20/Sep remains stable at 320 ºC with complete conversion of toluene after 24 h. In conclusion, the results of this study confirmed sepiolite-supported cobalt oxide catalyst as an efficient catalyst for degradation of toluene.
Keywords:
sepiolite; cobalt oxide; toluene; catalytic degradation
