Manganese oxide supported on pure and stabilized zirconia as catalysts for decomposition of hydrogen peroxide for propulsive applications

New MnO2/ZrO2 catalysts based on MnO2 supported on pure ZrO2 or ZrO2 containing with 15 or 25% Y2O3 as stabilizer were studied for H2O2 decomposition. The catalysts, prepared by impregnation of high surface area supports, showed high dispersion of the active phase. The redox properties, investigated by TPR, were strongly influenced by interaction with the support and varied with the loading and with the presence of Y2O3. The H2O2 decomposition, studied in a semi-batch reactor at 40° and 70°C with 60% H2O2, was very high initially but decreased with time, reaching a stationary value after about 1.5 h. The kinetic constant depended markedly on MnO2 loading: this behaviour was related to the presence of MnOx species with different reducibility