Summary: | The application-attractive form of TiO<sub>2</sub>, CeO<sub>2</sub> and CuO-based open-cell foam supported catalysts was designed to investigate their catalytic performance in oxidation of two model volatile organic compounds—methanol and dichloromethane. TiO<sub>2</sub>-CeO<sub>2</sub>, TiO<sub>2</sub>-CuO and TiO<sub>2</sub>-CeO<sub>2</sub>-CuO catalysts as thin films were deposited on VUKOPOR<sup>®</sup>A ceramic foam using a reverse micelles-controlled sol-gel method, dip-coating and calcination. Three prepared catalytic foams were investigated via light-off tests in methanol and dichloromethane oxidation in the temperature range of 45–400 °C and 100–500 °C, respectively, at GHSV of 11, 600 h<sup>−1</sup>, which fits to semi-pilot/industrial conditions. TiO<sub>2</sub>-CuO@VUKOPOR<sup>®</sup>A foam showed the best catalytic activity and CO<sub>2</sub> yield in methanol oxidation due to its low weak Lewis acidity, high weak basicity and easily reducible CuO species and proved good catalytic stability within 20 h test. TiO<sub>2</sub>-CeO<sub>2</sub>-CuO@VUKOPOR<sup>®</sup>A foam was the best in dichloromethane oxidation. Despite of its lower catalytic activity compared to TiO<sub>2</sub>-CeO<sub>2</sub>@VUKOPOR<sup>®</sup>A foam, its highly-reducible -O-Cu-Ce-O- active surface sites led to the highest CO<sub>2</sub> yield and the highest weak Lewis acidity contributed to the highest HCl yield. This foam also showed the lowest amount of chlorine deposits.
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