Reduction of nitric oxide with ammonia on silica-supported vanadium oxide catalysts

Highly active catalysts for the reduction of nitric oxide with ammonia can be obtained by supporting vanadium oxide, more than 15% by weight, on a silica gel with micropores of a mean diameter larger than 10 nm, followed by calcining it in the temperature range from 250 to 350°C. Both pre-impregnation with a small amount of titania and addition of ammonium bromide increased the activity markedly. The catalyst gave an NO conversion level of 100% at 150°C. A series of life tests of the catalysts, which was performed at 230°C using a simulated flue gas containing 700 parts/10⁶ of sulphur dioxide, demonstrated that their activities were stable for more than 300 h. Little irreversible change in the catalyst properties was observed after the test.     

Vanadium loaded carbon-based catalysts for the reduction of nitric oxide

Carbon-based SCR catalysts for the reduction of NO with NH₃ at low temperatures have been prepared using activated carbons obtained from a local Spanish coal, doped with several vanadium compounds. Among them, the ashes of a petroleum coke (PCA) were also employed. Both the catalysts and the carbon supports have been characterized by means of N₂ and CO₂ physisorption, NH₃ and O₂ chemisorption and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). The activity of the catalysts has been tested in a laboratory-scale unit, measuring significant conversions of NO (above 50%) with almost 100% selectivity toward N₂ at 150 °C. The feasibility of using the petroleum coke ashes as the active phase was confirmed comparing the activity of the catalysts doped with these residues, with the one measured for the catalysts prepared using model vanadium compounds. The physical–chemical features of the carbon support resulted of key importance for achieving a considerable catalytic activity. The values of apparent energy of activation calculated for the catalysts presented in this paper were very similar to other carbon-based catalysts and smaller than the ones corresponding to TiO₂-supported systems. The gas residence time on the catalytic bed influences the catalytic activity to a great extent, thus being a determinant parameter for designing the SCR de-NO_x unit. To avoid ammonia slip, inlet concentrations of NH₃ has to be little under the stoichometric NH₃/NO ratio (0.7). The catalysts stability was tested in terms of carbon support gasification followed by termogravimetric analysis and gas chromatography. The activity of the catalysts was maintained at least over 24 h of reaction.     

Decomposition of nitric oxide over perovskite oxide catalysts: effect of CO2, H2O and CH4

Direct nitric oxide decomposition over perovskites is fairly slow and complex, its mechanism changing dramatically with temperature. Previous kinetic study for three representative compositions (La_0.87Sr_0.13Mn_0.2Ni_0.8O_3−δ, La_0.66Sr_0.34Ni_0.3Co_0.7O_3−δ and La_0.8Sr_0.2Cu_0.15Fe_0.85O_3−δ) has shown that depending on the temperature range, the inhibition effect of oxygen either increases or decreases with temperature. This paper deals with the effect of CO₂, H₂O and CH₄ on the nitric oxide decomposition over the same perovskites studied at a steady-state in a plug-flow reactor with 1 g catalyst and total flowrates of 50 or 100 ml/min of 2 or 5% NO. The effect of carbon dioxide (0.5–10%) was evaluated between 873 and 923 K, whereas that of H₂O vapor (1.6 or 2.5%) from 723 to 923 K. Both CO₂ and H₂O inhibit the NO decomposition, but inhibition by CO₂ is considerably stronger. For all three catalysts, these effects increase with temperature. Kinetic parameters for the inhibiting effects of CO₂ and H₂O over the three perovskites were determined. Addition of methane to the feed (NO/CH₄=4) increases conversion of NO to N₂ about two to four times, depending on the initial NO concentration and on temperature. This, however, is still much too low for practical applications. Furthermore, the rates of methane oxidation by nitric oxide over perovskites are substantially slower than those of methane oxidation by oxygen. Thus, perovskites do not seem to be suitable for catalytic selective NO reduction with methane.     

The effect of particle size on nitric oxide decomposition and reaction with carbon monoxide on palladium catalysts

The effect of palladium particle size on its catalytic activity was investigated by the decomposition of chemisorbed nitric oxide and the reaction of nitric oxide with carbon monoxide in flow conditions. Palladium particles (30–500 Å) were prepared on silica thin films (100 Å) which were supported on a Mo(110) surface. The reactivity of the supported palladium varied with the metal particle size. On large palladium particles, nitric oxide (NO) reacts to form nitrous oxide (N₂O), dinitrogen (N₂) and atomic oxygen during temperature-programmed reaction, whereas on small particles (< 50 Å), nitrous oxide is not formed. Similarly, reactions of NO with CO on large particles, in flow conditions produce N₂O, N₂ and CO₂, whereas N₂O is not produced on small particles. In addition, more extensive NO decomposition is observed on the smaller particles.     

Oxidized carbon as a support of copper oxide catalysts for methanol decomposition to hydrogen and carbon monoxide

Copper oxide supported on oxidized activated carbon is investigated as a catalyst for methanol decomposition to H₂ and CO. The influence of the medium of the precursor deposition on the state of the active phase is observed. The role of the chemical nature of the support in the formation of catalytic active complex is discussed.     

Novel cobalt-doped ZrSnO4 catalysts for direct nitrous oxide decomposition

Novel ZrSn_1−xCo_xO_4−δ catalysts for the direct decomposition of nitrous oxide (N₂O) were synthesized using a co-precipitation method. Metastable ZrSnO₄ with an α-PbO₂-type structure was used as the mother solid because of its interstitial open spaces derived from its lattice distortion that may be effective for N₂O adsorption. The doping of Co^2+/3+ into the ZrSnO₄ lattice improved the N₂O decomposition activity, likely owing to the enhancement of the redox properties and the increase in the number of oxygen vacancies. Among the prepared catalysts, Zr_1.17Sn_0.73Co_0.10O_4−δ exhibited the highest activity decomposing N₂O completely decomposed at 550°C. In addition, the Zr_1.17Sn_0.73Co_0.10O_4−δ catalyst showed high durability in the presence of CO₂, O₂, and H₂O vapor.     

Combining confinement and NO calcination to arrive at highly dispersed supported nickel and cobalt oxide catalysts with a tunable particle size

Control over the size and size distribution of supported nanoparticles is key to their efficient use in catalysis. In the preparation of nanoparticles by impregnation using nitrate precursors, the support pore diameter can be used to influence the average crystallite size. However, the particle size distributions obtained via this method are generally broad and the dispersions relatively low. Higher dispersions and narrow particle size distributions are obtained via thermal decomposition of the metal nitrate precursor in 1% (v/v) NO in Ar instead of air. Here we will show that by combining the confinement effect of ordered mesoporous silica with a decomposition step of metal nitrates in NO, silica supported nickel and cobalt oxides with a tunable particle size (2–4 nm) can be obtained at high loadings (10–20 wt%).     

Methanol partial oxidation on carbon-supported Pt and Pd catalysts

Different Pt and Pd catalysts supported on an activated carbon were prepared by using different metal precursors. Prepared catalysts were pretreated at 400 °C under different atmospheres to decompose the precursor compound and reduce the metal. After pretreatments, the supported catalysts were characterized by H₂ chemisorption, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to know their metal dispersion, particle size, distribution and oxidation state. Afterwards, the catalysts were tested in methanol partial oxidation with two different O₂/CH₃OH molar ratios. Results obtained in this reaction were compared with those obtained for methanol decomposition in inert atmosphere. For Pt catalysts, there was an increase in methanol conversion and hydrogen production and a decrease in carbon monoxide production under oxidizing conditions. Both methanol conversion and partial oxidation reactions appear to be sensitive to Pt particle structure in the particle size range studied. Results obtained under oxidizing conditions differed between Pd and Pt catalysts. Finally, catalytic activity in methanol partial oxidation was more affected by Pt than Pd particle size in the size range studied.     

Pillared clay and zirconia-based monolithic catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide by methane

New monolithic catalysts based on zirconia and pillared clays (PILC) have been studied for NO_x removal by CH₄ in the presence of oxygen. A comparative study of the influence of ZrO₂ from various commercial sources for the system Pd–ZrO₂ and the effect of the noble metal chosen for the system NM–PILC was carried out, trying to correlate the catalytic activity with the physico-chemical properties of these catalysts. The obtained results indicate that structure and surface acidity of the support plays an important role on the selectivity to NO_x reduction, although properties such as the surface area or pore volume could also determine the overall activity of the monolithic catalysts.     

Effects of methane and oxygen on decomposition of nitrous oxide over metal oxide catalysts

Catalytic activities of various metal oxides for decomposition of nitrous oxide were compared in the presence and absence of methane and oxygen, and the general rule in the effects of the coexisting gases was discussed. The reaction rates of nitrous oxide were well correlated to the heat of formation of metal oxide, i.e., a V-shaped relationship with a minimum at −ΔH_f⁰ around 450 kJ (O mol)⁻¹ was observed in N₂O decomposition in an inert gas. In the case of metal oxides having the heat of formation lower than 450 kJ (O mol)⁻¹, CuO, Co₃O₄, NiO, Fe₂O₃, SnO₂, In₂O₃, Cr₂O₃, the activities were strongly affected by the presence of methane and oxygen. On the other hand, the activities of TiO₂, Al₂O₃, La₂O₃, MgO and CaO were almost independent. The reaction rate of nitrous oxide was significantly enhanced by methane. The promotion effect of methane was attributed to the reduction of nitrous oxide with methane: 4N₂O+CH₄→2N₂+CO₂+2H₂O. The activity was suppressed in the presence of oxygen on the metal oxides having lower heat of formation. On the basis of Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism, the effect of oxygen on nitrous oxide decomposition was rationalized with the strength of metal–oxygen bond.     

Conversion of nitric oxide and methane over Pd/ZSM-5 catalysts in the absence of oxygen

We have studied the conversion of nitric oxide and methane on several H- and Na-ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts in the absence of oxygen. Our results suggest that the NO-CH₄ reaction can be explained in terms of a mechanism that starts with a nitric oxide decomposition step followed by the surface reaction of methane with the product oxygen regenerating the active site. We have found that reduced Pd/ZSM-5 catalysts are active for the nitric oxide decomposition reaction but deactivate rapidly due to self-poisoning by product oxygen. By contrast, in the presence of methane these catalysts can exhibit high activity and stability under certain conditions. For instance, when the nitric oxide decomposition and the reaction of methane with the surface oxygen proceed at comparable rates the catalyst is stable but when the methane conversion is lower than that required to remove all the oxygen produced (stoichiometric methane conversion) the catalyst rapidly deactivates. Under some conditions the methane conversion may be higher than the stoichiometric requirement leading to the deposition of carbonaceous species. These carbonaceous deposits can promote the reaction by helping to remove the product oxygen.     

The preparation of silica supported Pd catalysts: the effect of pretreatment variables on particle size

The effect of pretreatment on the dispersion of Pd catalysts supported on silica has been studied. The catalysts were prepared from [Pd(NH₃)₄] (NO₃)₂ as the metal precursor at a pH = 9. The resulting catalysts were characterized using both CO and H₂ chemisorption, transmission electron microscopy, and in-situ UV reflectance spectroscopy. Pretreatment in H₂ resulted in poor Pd dispersions while pretreatment in He or Ar resulted in very high dispersions. Pretreatment in O₂ resulted in moderate dispersions. The results are explained by considering the chemical structure of the adsorbed surface complex under different pretreatment conditions. The chemistry of the decomposition process is considered in detail.     

A pilot plant study for catalytic decomposition of PCDDs/PCDFs over supported chromium oxide catalysts

Chromium oxide catalysts supported on TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ were examined in a fixed-bed flow reactor system for the removal of PCE (perchloroethylene), a simulant of 2,3,7,8-TCDD (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), and in a pilot plant employing actual flue gas from a sintering plant for the removal of PCDDs/PCDFs (poly-chlorinated dibenzo-dioxin/poly-chlorinated dibenzo-furan). The 12.5 wt.% chromium oxides supported on TiO₂ and Al₂O₃ revealed excellent stability and performance of PCE removal in the feed gas stream containing water vapor. In a pilot plant study, the catalysts washcoated on the honeycomb reactor revealed 93–95% of PCDDs/PCDFs removal activity over CrO_x/Al₂O₃-HC20 (CrO_x/Al₂O₃ catalyst washcoated on 20 cell-honeycomb), and more than 99% of the decomposition activity over CrO_x/TiO₂-HC20 (CrO_x/TiO₂ catalyst washcoated on 20 cell-honeycomb) at 325 °C and 5000 h⁻¹ of reactor space velocity without the de novo synthesis of PCDDs/PCDFs. In particular, CrO_x/TiO₂-HC20 showed 94% of PCDDs/PCDFs decomposition activity even at 280 °C reaction temperature. The catalyst also exhibited significant NO removal activity. The chromium oxide seems to be a promising catalyst for the removal of PCDDs/PCDFs and NO_x contained in the flue gas.     

Catalytic decomposition of N2O on supported Pd catalysts: Support and thermal ageing effects on the catalytic performances

This study is devoted to the catalytic decomposition of N₂O over noble metal-based catalysts under lean conditions in the presence of O₂, NO and water. A particular attention has been paid toward the influence of the support and the thermal ageing-induced effects on the catalytic properties of palladium species. In those operating conditions, the deposition of palladium on reducible supports, such as LaCoO₃, leads to higher activity in comparison with conventional supports such as alumina. Surface reconstructions take place during thermal ageing under reactive conditions on pre-reduced perovskite-based catalysts which lead to a significant rate enhancement in the decomposition of N₂O. On the other hand, it was found that oxygen and water strongly inhibit the surface reconstructions associated with changes in the selectivity towards the production of NO₂.     

Highly selective supported Pd catalysts for steam reforming of methanol

Steam reforming of methanol, CH₃OH + H₂O 3H₂ + CO₂, was carried out over various Pd catalysts (Pd/SiO₂, Pd/Al₂O₃, Pd/La₂O₃, Pd/Nb₂O₅, Pd/Nd₂O₃, Pd/ZrO₂, Pd/ZnO and unsupported Pd). The reaction was greatly affected by the kind of support. The selectivity for the steam reforming was anomalously high over Pd/ZnO catalysts.     

Kinetics of nitrous oxide decomposition over Cu-ZSM-5

The kinetics of nitrous oxide decomposition on an overexchanged Cu-ZSM-5 catalyst were measured using a gradientless reactor. Isothermal oscillations of nitrous oxide and oxygen concentrations can be observed in a broad range of experimental conditions. A transition of the catalytic activity during oscillations is accompanied by a change in the oxygen content of the catalyst and by the formation of traces of nitric oxide. The presence of excess oxygen does not significantly alter the behaviour of the catalyst whereas NO concentrations as low as 10 ppm quench the oscillations in the whole temperature range studied (375 to 450°C), maintaining steady-state operation at maximum catalytic activity. Reaction rates in this ‘ignited’ state are first order with respect to nitrous oxide concentration and not affected by either oxygen or nitric oxide. At temperatures above 400°C, the observed reaction rates are influenced by pore diffusion effects. In the region of intrinsic kinetics, the temperature dependence of the first order rate constant can be described by an activation energy of ca. 100 kJ/mol.     

Methanol decomposition to synthesis gas over supported Pd catalysts prepared from synthetic anionic clays

Supported Pd or Rh catalysts were prepared by the solid-phase crystallization method starting from hydrotalcite anionic clay minerals based on [Mg₆Al₂(OH)₁₆CO ₂ ²⁻ ]·4H₂O as the precursors. The precursors were prepared by a coprecipitation method from the raw materials containing Pd²⁺ and various trivalent metal ions which can replace each site of Mg²⁺ and Al³⁺ in the hydrotalcite. Rh³⁺ was also used for preparing the catalyst as comparison. The precursors were then thermally decomposed and reduced to form supported Pd or Rh catalysts and used for the methanol decomposition to synthesis gas. Among the precursors tested, use of Mg–Cr hydrotalcite containing Pd²⁺ resulted in the formation of efficient Pd supported catalysts for the production of synthesis gas by selective decomposition of methanol at low temperature. Although Pd²⁺ cannot well replace the Mg²⁺ site in the hydrotalcite, the Pd supported catalyst (Pd/Mg–Cr) prepared by the solid-phase crystallization method formed highly dispersed Pd metal particles and showed much higher activity than that prepared by the conventional impregnation method. When the precursor was prepared under mild conditions, more fine particles of Pd metal were formed over the catalyst, resulting in high activity. It is likely that the high activity may be due to the highly dispersed and stable Pd metal particles assisted by the role of Cr as the co-catalyst. This revised version was published online in November 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Selective hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde using Pd catalysts supported on Mg/Al mixed oxides: Influence of the Pd incorporation method

A series of hydrotalcite‐like compounds was synthesized by varying Mg/Al molar ratio with values of 2, 3, and 4. After thermal treatment at 823 K, the corresponding mixed oxides were obtained and used as catalytic supports. The incorporation of a Pd metallic phase (0.5 g/g loading), was carried out by two methods: 1) in situ vapour phase thermal decomposition, and 2) impregnation by organic method. Fresh and calcined samples were characterized by XRD and N₂ sorption experiments. The basic and metal functions were analyzed by CO₂‐TPD and H₂‐TPR. The Pd‐support interaction was studied by FTIR spectroscopy using CO as a probe molecule while the morphology of Pd nanoparticles on the catalysts was studied by SEM, HRTEM, and theoretical simulation using the Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) method. Finally, the catalytic activity results showed a higher conversion towards hydrocinnamaldehyde in the cinnamaldehyde hydrogenation reaction for the catalysts prepared by vapour phase thermal decomposition, compared with those prepared by organic method, showing the significant dependence on the catalytic activity and the Pd incorporation method.     

Direct decomposition of nitric oxide over Ba catalysts supported on CeO2-based mixed oxides

The direct decomposition of nitric oxide (NO) over barium catalysts supported on various metal oxides was examined in the absence and presence of O₂. Among the Ba catalysts supported on single-component metal oxides, Ba/Co₃O₄ and Ba/CeO₂ showed high NO decomposition activities, while Ba/Al₂O₃, Ba/SiO₂, and Ba/TiO₂ exhibited quite low activities. The effect of an addition of second components to Co and Ce oxides was further examined, and it was found that the activities were significantly enhanced using Ce–Mn mixed oxides as support materials. XRD results indicated the formation of CeO₂–MnO_x solid solutions with the cubic fluorite structure. O₂-TPD of the CeO₂–MnO_x solid solutions showed a large desorption peak in a range of relatively low temperature. The BET surface areas of the CeO₂–MnO_x solid solutions were larger than those of pure CeO₂ and Mn₂O₃. These effects caused by the addition of Mn are responsible for the enhanced activities of the Ba catalysts supported on Ce–Mn mixed oxides.     

Decomposition of nitric oxide and its reduction by CO over superconducting and related cuprate catalysts

Catalytic activities of five non-conducting and three superconducting cuprates were measured for the decomposition of NO and the reduction of NO by CO. The concentration of the reactants and the space velocities approximate the conditions of automotive catalysts. In contrast to earlier results, obtained at 20 to 30 times higher partial pressures of NO and 20 to 100 times lower space velocities, none of the catalysts, including five perovskite-like cuprates, showed significant activity for the decomposition of NO at reaction temperatures up to 700 °C. All catalysts were fairly active for the reduction of NO. At temperatures above about 400 °C on the perovskite-like cuprates YBa₂Cu₃O_7-x and Ba₂CuO_3.5-x , the rates for NO reduction were higher than on CuO. All catalysts lost activity for NO reduction in the presence of oxygen (oxidizing conditions).