Abstract

Background: The effect of the B cation on the surface properties and catalytic activity in the total combustion of toluene over La 1-xCa xBO 3 (B = Fe,Ni) perovskite-type oxides was studied. Result For the La 1-xCa xFeO 3 series, the perovskite structure was maintained in the range of substitution studied. A completely different behaviour was observed for the La 1-xCa xNiO 3 series. A Brownmillerite-type structure (La 2Ni 2O 5) with a large degree of phase segregation as well dispersed mixed oxides was observed upon the substitution of La for Ca. In the Fe series, the catalytic activity in the total combustion of toluene showed that the insertion of calcium ions into the perovskite lattice resulted in higher activity relative to the unsubstituted LaFeO 3 perovskite. In contrast, for the Ni series, substitution results in solids with lower activity than the pure LaNiO 3 perovskite. Conclusion For the Fe series, higher activity and stability are attributed to a synergy between Fe 4+/Fe 3+ and the oxygen vacancies generated by the calcium substitution. For the Ni counterpart, the structural modification leads to a lower activity of substituted solids compared with the pure LaNiO 3 perovskite, indicating that Ni 3+ ions are the active sites for toluene oxidation. © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry.