Effect of Potassium on Sol-Gel Cerium and Lanthanum Oxide Catalysis for Soot Combustion

The catalytic activity in the soot combustion is reported for a series of potassium-promoter alumina supported catalysts prepared by the sol-gel method to be used in the catalytic combustion of soot. The studied systems correspond to CeO2-Al2O3 and La2O3-Al2O3 with charges of 3 and 5 wt% of CeO2 and La2O3. Potassium impregnation is performed to reach 3 atoms of K per nm2 of the mixed oxide. The effect of the potassium incorporation increases its reducibility, decreases the surface area and forms a new type of oxygen that is stronger than the oxygen in mixed oxides with similar chemical nature. The existence of potassium oxides, K2O and oxygen responsible for the vacancies and/or lattice defects (O2−) are related to good catalytic activity. Additionally, the presence of alkali affects the structural and textural characteristics of the catalyst, promoting the catalytic activity in soot combustion.