Catalytic Decomposition of N2O at Low Temperature by Reduced Cobalt Oxides

Various forms of cobalt oxide (Co3O4 and Co2O3 ) were subsequently prepared and tested for decomposition of N2O at low temperature in a fix bed differential reactor at steady state conditions. These different types of oxides were prepared by precipitation method (PM) and by calcination of commercially available CoCO3. Commercially available cobalt oxides Co3O4 and Co2O3 were also tested for N2O decomposition at different temperatures. All types of prepared and commercially available cobalt oxide were found inactive for N2O decomposition in the presence of oxygen at temperature less than 300 degrees C. Similar unsatisfactory results were found at low temperature N2O decomposition after impregnation of alkali metal (10% Na) and alkaline earth metal (10% Ba) over Co3O4. These catalysts were then reduced under reduction media (H-2 gas). It was found that after reduction cobalt oxide catalysts became active for N2O decomposition for short time in the presence of oxygen at low temperature. The reduced form of Co3O4 catalyst showed enormous efficiency i.e., 98% at temperature (300 degrees C) under the same conditions. From results it seems that Co3O4 itself is not active for N2O decomposition but its reduced form is highly active for this reaction due to oxidation state change of Co3O4 during reduction process.