Abstract

Energy processing and fuel combustion processes generate large volumes of CO, NO_x, SO₂, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). These pollutants may pollute the air and water, thus doing harm to humans, animals, plants, and buildings. Heterogeneous catalysis plays an important role in environmental remediation. Catalytic elimination of environmental pollutants is more efficient and effective than conventional incineration. In particular, metal oxide catalysts are cheap, versatile and easy to prepare. Although Co₃O₄ is not as popular as TiO₂ (a photocatalyst) in environmental catalysis, it shows extraordinary activity in CO oxidation well below room temperature, and therefore has attracted much attention recently. Here we review the recent progress in the remediation of several environmental pollutants by various Co₃O₄ catalysts and furnish our perspectives.

Keywords: Cobalt oxide, CO oxidation, Environmental catalysis, Nanocatalysts.