Hydrolysis and oxidation on AC–Cu–CoSPc–Ce catalyst for removal of HCN

A series of catalysts were studied for removal efficiency of hydrogen cyanide (HCN) under micro-oxygen conditions. It was found that activated carbon modified by Cu, Ce, and cobalt sulfonated phthalocyanine (CoSPc) denoted as AC–Cu–CoSPc–Ce showed significantly enhanced catalysis ability. The influences of preparation conditions on catalytic activity were studied, which were the kinds of additive, calcination temperatures, and oxygen concentration. The effects of the calcination temperatures on the catalyst were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The AC–Cu–CoSPc–Ce catalyst showed >98% conversion of HCN at 200–350 °C. We concluded that AC–Cu–CoSPc–Ce could be used as a catalyst for the removal of HCN by simultaneous hydrolysis and oxidation.