Simultaneous removal of 1,2-dichlorobenzene and furan over Mn–Ce–Fe oxide catalyst: Catalytic activity and product analysis

The Mn–Ce–Fe mixed oxide (MCFe) was prepared by co-precipitation and the catalytic performance was tested by using 1,2-dichlorobenzene (1,2-DCB) and furan as model molecules of PCDD/F. The effect of O₂ concentration, SO₂ and NO on the catalytic activity was studied. At 270 °C, the MCFe oxide catalyst presents significant simultaneous removal efficiency of 75.25% and 100% for 1,2-DCB and furan, respectively. Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) method (BET), X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), H₂-temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR), NH₃-temperature programmed desorption (NH₃-TPD) and O₂-TPD were used to characterize the catalysts before and after the reaction. Competition tests suggest that the oxidation behavior of furan occurred prior to that of 1,2-DCB. According to the intermediate products detected by gas chromatography – mass spectrometry (GC-MS), the by-products include chlorinated hydrocarbons, long-chain hydrocarbons, ketone, etc. Possible catalytic oxidation reaction paths are proposed.