Catalytic Oxidation Process and Thermal Characteristics of Toluene and Butyl Acetate Vapor in an Oven

Toluene vapor and butyl acetate vapor were oxidized at 523 K in an oven using the Pt/Co3O4-CeO2, Pt/Al2O3, and Co3O4-CeO2 catalysts and a comparison of activity and thermal characteristic among three different catalysts was conducted. The conversion into CO2 was estimated from the change in temperature of a catalyst bed during the oxidation reaction. A relation between heat capacity of the gas and amount of solvent molecule oxidized was clarified. In the oxidation with Pt/Al2O3 catalyst, the butyl acetate could not be completely oxidized, and part remained. Butanol and butanal were formed as by-products of the butyl acetate in the oven, which contained moist air. In the oxidation with Co3O4-CeO2 catalyst, although no butyl acetate remained, some toluene remained and the amount of butanol and butanal increased somewhat after passage over the catalyst bed. By using a catalyst that combined platinum and Co3O4-CeO2 with the original method, both the toluene and butyl acetate were almost completely oxidized at 523 K.