Performance and Reaction Mechanisms of Catalytic Combustion of Toluene and Ethyl Acetate Over Fe‐Mn Oxides

In this paper, Fe−Mn oxide catalysts were prepared by the co‐precipitation method. (Fe 2 O 3 )‐(Mn 3 O 4 )‐3 : 1 showed the best catalytic activity in the degradation of toluene and ethyl acetate, with the removal rate reaching 90 % at 166 °C and 156 °C respectively. The XRD, SEM, TEM, and XPS characterizations revealed that the interaction between Fe and Mn and the higher surface adsorption of oxygen in the (Fe 2 O 3 )‐(Mn 3 O 4 )‐3 : 1 catalyst may be the main factors promoting the catalytic oxidation. (Fe 2 O 3 )‐(Mn 3 O 4 )‐3 : 1 exhibited a better removal rate in ethyl acetate than toluene at different space velocities, concentrations and water contents. Under the same conditions, the degradation rate of (Fe 2 O 3 )‐(Mn 3 O 4 )‐3 : 1 in ethyl acetate was also greater than that in xylene and butyl acetate, which was related to their oxidation processes. FT‐IR and GC‐MS characterizations of fresh and used (Fe 2 O 3 )‐(Mn 3 O 4 )‐3 : 1 catalysts revealed intermediates in the oxidation of volatile organic compounds, and the reaction mechanisms were analyzed: Firstly, VOCs molecules were adsorbed on the catalyst surface, then decomposed into organic intermediates and oxidized to CO 2 and H 2 O finally.