Novel Vanadia/meso-Co3O4 catalysts for the conversion of benzene–toluene–xylene to environmental friendly components via catalytic oxidation

Three - dimensional meso-porous Co3O4 was prepared by nanocasting pathway based on the use of mesoporous silica (KIT-6) as hard template with different Cobalt concentrations (0.5-2.5 mol ratio based on mesoporous silica KIT-6). The prepared samples was used as supports for preparing V2O5/Co3O4 (1, 6 wt% of V2O5) catalysts. The prepared samples were characterized by different techniques. The catalytic activity of the prepared samples were evaluated in the complete oxidation reaction of toluene, benzene, and/or p-xylene; (as model reactants of volatile organic compounds) in terms of CO2. The catalytic reaction was carried out in a fixed-bed micro-reactor operated under atmospheric pressure and within the reaction temperature range of 200-400 °C. The data confirmed that the three dimensional-mesoporous Co3O4 (1.0 mole ratio) replicated sample possessed improved different parameters compared to those of the Co3O4 sample with other mole ratios. The data reflected the yield of Co2 is decreased upon the increase in reaction temperature to 400°C. 1 wt.% V2O5/m-Co3O4 catalyst shows a reverse direction, the CO2 yield slowly increased in the range 150-250 °C, then jumped at 300 °C until maximum yield (100%) is observed at 400 °C. 1 wt.% V2O5/m-Co3O4 catalyst was found to be the active and selective promised catalyst for the complete oxidation of either individual aromatic volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, and/or xylene) and/or their mixtures to 100% CO2.