Silver–Alumina Catalysts for Low-Temperature Methanol Incineration

The use of methanol as an alternative fuel for gasoline or diesel engines increases the unregulated CH3OH emission. γ-Al2O3 modified with Cu, Mn, Ce, K, Ag, Cu–Mn, Cu–Ce, Cu–Ag or Cu–K (0.5, 1.0, 0.5:0.5, 1.0:1.0 wt% of metal) catalysed the process of methanol incineration. The highest activity reached samples containing 1.0 wt% of silver. Dispersed Ag+ species on Al2O3 served as active species for selective oxidation of CH3OH to CO2 over both Ag/Al2O3 and Cu–Ag/Al2O3. Additionally, the XPS and EPR results revealed the AgO interface between the Ag2O and CuO in the Cu–Ag system.