Metal–Organic Framework-Based Sustainable Nanocatalysts for CO Oxidation

The development of new catalytic nanomaterials following sustainability criteria both in their composition and in their synthesis process is a topic of great current interest. The purpose of this work was to investigate the preparation of nanocatalysts derived from the zirconium metal–organic framework UiO-66 obtained under friendly conditions and supporting dispersed species of non-noble transition elements such as Cu, Co, and Fe, incorporated through a simple incipient wetness impregnation technique. The physicochemical properties of the synthesized solids were studied through several characterization techniques and then they were investigated in reactions of relevance for environmental pollution control, such as the oxidation of carbon monoxide in air and in hydrogen-rich streams (COProx). By controlling the atmospheres and pretreatment temperatures, it was possible to obtain active catalysts for the reactions under study, consisting of Cu-based UiO-66-, bimetallic CuCo–UiO-66-, and CuFe–UiO-6-derived materials. These solids represent new alternatives of nanostructured catalysts based on highly dispersed non-noble active metals.