Influence of BaO on Pd/Al2O3-based catalysts in C2H4 and CO oxidation as well as in NO reduction

In this study, Pd/Al₂O₃ and Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃ metallic monoliths were used to investigate the effect of BaO in C₂H₄ and CO oxidation as well as in NO reduction. A FT-IR gas analyser was used to study the activity of the catalysts. Several activity experiments carried out with dissimilar feedstreams revealed that BaO enhances CO and C₂H₄ oxidation as well as NO reduction reactions in rich conditions. This effect is due to BaO, which causes a decrease in the ethene poisoning of palladium. In lean conditions BaO is present in the form of Ba(OH)₂ which reacts with oxidised NO releasing water. Therefore, NO was stored during the lean reaction.     

Catalytic properties of novel La–Sr–Cu–O–S perovskites for automotive C3H6/CO oxidation in the presence of SOx

A La–Sr–Cu–O–S system with K₂NiF₄ perovskite-type structure has been studied as a novel SO_x-resistant combustion catalyst. The XRD result implied that sulfur is incorporated into the structure as non-sulfate-type cations. An introduction of sulfur with highly positive valence (S⁶⁺ or S⁴⁺) into the lattice requires the charge compensation by decreasing the oxidation number of Cu. This is accompanied by the creation of more reducible Cu species, which would achieve the light-off of catalytic C₃H₆ oxidation at lower temperatures. More important feature of sulfur-containing compounds is that the catalytic C₃H₆ oxidation was significantly accelerated by addition of SO₂ to the gas feed. The catalytic performance for the oxidation of C₃H₆ and CO and the reduction of NO was finally evaluated in a simulated automotive exhaust in the presence of SO₂.     

On the promotional effect of Pd on the propene-assisted decomposition of NO on chlorinated Ce0.68Zr0.32O2

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x assisted by propene is investigated on Pd/Ce_0.68Zr_0.32O₂ catalysts (Pd/CZ), and is compared, under identical experimental conditions, with that found on a Pd/SiO₂ reference catalyst. Physico-chemical characterisation of the studied catalysts along with their catalytic properties indicate that Pd is not fully reduced to metallic Pd for the Pd/CZ catalysts. This study shows that the incorporation of Pd to CZ greatly promotes the reduction of NO in the presence of C₃H₆. These catalysts display very stable deNO_x activity even in the presence of 1.7% water, the addition of which induces a reversible deactivation of about 10%. The much higher N₂ selectivity obtained on Pd/CZ suggests that the lean deNO_x mechanism occurring on these catalysts is different from that occurring on Pd⁰/SiO₂. A detailed mechanism is proposed for which CZ achieves both NO oxidation to NO₂ and NO decomposition to N₂, whereas PdO_x activates C₃H₆ via ad-NO₂ species, intermediately producing R-NO_x compounds that further decompose to NO and C_xH_yO_z. The role of the latter oxygenates is to reduce CZ to provide the catalytic sites responsible for NO decomposition. The proposed C₃H₆-assisted NO decomposition mechanism stresses the key role of NO₂, R-NO_x and C_xH_yO_z as intermediates of the SCR of NO_x by hydrocarbons.     

Influence of rhodium- and ceria-promotion of automotive palladium catalyst on its catalytic behaviour under steady-state and dynamic operation

The dynamic behaviour of honeycomb type, unpromoted, and rhodium (Rh) and ceria (CeO₂) promoted palladium/alumina (PdAl₂O₃) automotive catalysts has been tested under constant air/fuel ratios as well as under symmetric and asymmetric cycling of simulated exhaust feed gas. Combined use of FTIR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry allowed simultaneous monitoring of the exhaust components. Light-off tests carried out in the range 150–500°C indicated drastic differences in the conversion of the main target species NO_x, CO and hydrocarbons during warm up, depending on the presence of ceria and/or Rh. Best performance with regard to NO conversion under steady feed conditions was observed with the Rh promoted Pd, whereas under cycling, addition of ceria resulted in a further improvement of NO_x conversion and lowering of undesirable NH₃ formation. CO conversion was substantially enhanced by ceria addition as well as cycling operation. As concerns the behaviour in hydrocarbon conversion, Rh had a much more pronounced influence than ceria, significantly enhancing the average conversion during light-off. The benefits of λ-cycling were generally lower light-off temperatures for NO, CO and C₃H₈ conversion and an improved catalytic behaviour of the ceria-containing catalysts, especially for higher amplitudes and frequencies.     

Palladium catalyst performance for methane emissions abatement from lean burn natural gas vehicles

As little as 1 ppm SO_x present in the exhaust of a lean burn natural gas engine strongly inhibits the oxidation of CH₄ over a Pd containing catalyst. Non-methane emissions oxidation, such as C₂H₆, C₃H₈ and CO, are also inhibited by low SO_x concentrations, but to a lesser extent than CH₄ emissions. The mechanism for SO_x inhibition indicates a 1 : 1 selective adsorption of SO_x on PdO for palladium on a non-sulfating support such as SiO₂. Deactivation is therefore very rapid. In contrast, palladium on sulfating supports, that is γ-Al₂O₃, deactivate more slowly and can tolerate more SO_x because the SO_x is also adsorbed onto the carrier. The activation energy for methane oxidation is dramatically increased after SO_x poisoning for all Pd catalysts, while the Arrhenius pre-exponential term is relatively constant, indicating a transformation from very active PdO sites to less active PdOSO_x sites. Platinum catalysts are considerably less active than Pd as evidenced by a much lower pre-exponential term, but are more resistant to deactivation by SO_x. Non-methane hydrocarbon and particulate emissions standards for lean burn natural gas engines for the United States can be met with Pd catalysts. However, the non-enforced methane emissions standards are not met. For the European truck test cycle, methane emissions standards are met since the test cycle heavily weights the hotter modes where PdSO_x is sufficiently active.     

NOx removal from the flue gas of oil-fired boiler using a multistage plasma-catalyst hybrid system

The study on removal of NO_x from the flue gas of oil-fired boiler has been carried out using non-thermal plasma cum catalyst hybrid reactor at 150 °C. Propylene (C₃H₆) was used as a reducing agent. A multistage plasma-catalyst hybrid reactor was newly designed and successfully operated to clean up the flue gas stream having a flow rate of 30 Nm³/h. TiO₂ and Pd/ZrO₂ wash-coated on cordierite honeycomb were used as catalysts in the present study. Though the plasma-catalyst hybrid reactor with TiO₂ showed good activity on the removal of NO yet it removed only 50–60% of NO_x because a significant portion of NO oxidized to NO₂. On the contrary, the plasma-catalyst hybrid reactor with Pd/ZrO₂ removed about 50% of inlet NO with a negligible amount of NO oxidation into NO₂. The plasma/dual-catalysts hybrid system (front two units of plasma-Pd/ZrO₂ + rear two units of plasma/TiO₂) proved to be very promising in NO_x removal in the presence of C₃H₆. DeNO_x efficiency of about 74% has been achieved at a space velocity of 3300/h at 150 °C.     

Palladium-substituted lanthanum cuprates: application to automotive exhaust purification

A series of palladium-substituted La₂CuO₄, corresponding to the formula La₂Cu_{1 −x}Pd_xO₄ (x = 0−0.2) were prepared by metal nitrate decomposition in a polyacrylamide gel. This method allows an easy incorporation of palladium in the mixed-oxides, which are formed at moderate temperature with rather high specific areas (13–17 m²/g). The partial substitution of copper for palladium allows a strong improvement of the three-way catalytic activity, in particular for NO reduction. The light-off temperatures for the conversions of CO, NO and C₃H₆ decreased markedly when increasing the palladium content, the activity of catalysts La₂Cu_0.9Pd_0.1O₄ and La₂Cu_0.8Pd_0.2O₄ being comparable to that of a Pt-Rh/CeO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst for NO reduction, and higher for CO and C₃H₆ oxidation.

All the La₂Cu_{1 − x} Pd_xO₄ catalysts are activated under reacting conditions. This activation corresponds to the destruction of the mixed-oxide structure, with formation of reduced Pd⁰ ions atomically dispersed, surrounded by Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ species on a lanthanum oxycarbonate matrix. This high dispersion state of the two transition metals in various oxidation states is supposed to originate from the initial La₂Cu_{1 −x}Pd_xO₄ structure.     

不同粒径Pd/Al2O3催化乙炔加氢反应微观动力学分析

采用等量浸渍法制备了α-Al₂O₃负载的系列Pd催化剂,运用BET、XRD、ICP-AES、CO化学吸附、TEM等手段对催化剂进行了表征;根据部分析因实验设计方案进行动力学实验,采用微观反应动力学方法模拟和分析了所获稳定期本征动力学实验结果。结果发现,制备所得催化剂Pd颗粒的平均粒径分别为1.6、3.4、5.5 nm,CO化学吸附所测定达到活性稳定期后的催化剂表面Pd原子数与Hardeveld模型计算的Pd（111）表面原子数一致;模拟结果表明该微观动力学模型可以很好地模拟不同粒径催化剂上的动力学结果,在所研究范围内表面最丰物种为C₂H₄^*和C₂H₃^*,通过微观与宏观动力学的特征判断3种催化剂上乙炔加氢的速率控制步骤为乙烯基加氢生成乙烯。     

Selective catalytic reduction of NO by C3H8 over CoOx/Al2O3: An investigation of structure–activity relationships

A series of CoO_x/Al₂O₃ catalysts was prepared, characterized, and applied for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by C₃H₈. The results of XRD, UV–vis, IR, Far-IR and ESR characterizations of the catalysts suggest that the predominant oxidation state of cobalt species is +2 for the catalysts with low cobalt loading (≤2 mol%) and for the catalysts with 4 mol% cobalt loading prepared by sol–gel and co-precipitation. Co₃O₄ crystallites or agglomerates are the predominant species in the catalysts with high cobalt loading prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and solid dispersion. An optimized CoO_x/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows high activity in SCR of NO by C₃H₈ (100% conversion of NO at 723 K, GHSV: 10,000 h⁻¹). The activity of the selective catalytic reduction of NO by C₃H₈ increases with the increase of cobalt–alumina interactions in the catalysts. The influences of cobalt loading and catalyst preparation method on the catalytic performance suggest that tiny CoAl₂O₄ crystallites highly dispersed on alumina are responsible for the efficient catalytic reduction of NO, whereas Co₃O₄ crystallites catalyze the combustion of C₃H₈ only.     

The effect of oxygen concentration on the reduction of NO with propylene over CuO/γ-Al2O3

The effect of oxygen concentration on the pulse and steady-state selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with C₃H₆ over CuO/γ-Al₂O₃ has been studied by infrared spectroscopy (IR) coupled with mass spectroscopy studies. IR studies revealed that the pulse SCR occurred via (i) the oxidation of Cu⁰/Cu⁺ to Cu²⁺ by NO and O₂, (ii) the co-adsorption of NO/NO₂/O₂ to produce Cu²⁺(NO₃⁻)₂, and (iii) the reaction of Cu²⁺(NO₃⁻)₂ with C₃H₆ to produce N₂, CO₂, and H₂O. Increasing the O₂/NO ratio from 25.0 to 83.4 promotes the formation of NO₂ from gas phase oxidation of NO, resulting in a reactant mixture of NO/NO₂/O₂. This reactant mixture allows the formation of Cu²⁺(NO₃⁻)₂ and its reaction with the C₃H₆ to occur at a higher rate with a higher selectivity toward N₂ than the low O₂/NO flow. Both the high and low O₂/NO steady-state SCR reactions follow the same pathway, proceeding via adsorbed C₃H₇---NO₂, C₃H₇---ONO, CH₃COO⁻, Cu⁰---CN, and Cu⁺---NCO intermediates toward N₂, CO₂, and H₂O products. High O₂ concentration in the high O₂/NO SCR accelerates both the formation and destruction of adsorbates, resulting in their intensities similar to the low O₂/NO SCR at 523–698 K. High O₂ concentration in the reactant mixture resulted in a higher rate of destruction of the intermediates than low O₂ concentration at temperatures above 723 K.     

Selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide by hydrocarbons over mordenite-type zeolite catalysts

The reduction of NO by hydrocarbons such as C₂H₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₆, and C₃H₈ has been investigated over mordenite-type zeolite catalysts including HM, CuHM, NZA (natural zeolite), and CuNZA prepared by an ion-exchange method in a continuous flow fixed-bed reactor. NO conversion over CuNZA catalyst reaches about 94% with 2000 ppm of C₃H₆ at 500°C. As reductants, alkenes seem to exhibit a higher performance for NO conversion than alkanes regardless of the catalysts. No deterioration of the catalytic activity due to carbonaceous deposits for CuNZA was observed above 400°C even after 30 h of on-stream time, but SO₂ in the feed gas stream causes a severe poisoning of the CuNZA catalyst. The effect of H₂O on NO conversion was significant regardless of the catalysts and the reductants employed in this study. However, CuNZA catalyst shows a unique water tolerance with C₃H₆. The reaction path of NO to N₂ is the most important factor for high performance of this catalytic system. NO is directly reduced by a reaction intermediate, C_n′H_m′(O) formed from hydrocarbon and O₂, N₂O is another reaction intermediate which can be easily removed by C_n′H_m′(O).     

Nitric oxide reduction by ethylene over Pt-ZSM-5 under lean conditions: steady-state activity

Steady-state activity of Pt-ZSM-5 catalysts has been investigated experimentally for the NO + C₂H₄ + O₂ reaction under highly oxidizing conditions, typical of lean-burn gasoline engine exhaust. Effects of temperature, space velocity, feed concentration, Pt loading and water vapor on the catalytic activity have been examined using a packed-bed laboratory reactor. The catalytic activity of Pt-ZSM-5 is discussed in comparison with that of Cu-ZSM-5 and Pt/Al₂O₃. Results show that Pt-ZSM-5 catalysts are much more active than Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts for lean-NO_x reduction at low temperatures, while the kinetic behavior of Pt/Al₂O₃ is very similar to that of Pt-ZSM-5. Conversion of both NO and C₂H₄ during the NO + C₂H₄ + O₂ reaction over Pt-ZSM-5 around the reaction lightoff temperature is strongly inhibited by the presence of NO. The NO/C₂H₄ ratio in the feedstream is an important factor determining the NO reduction activity of the catalyst, and there exists an optimum value of this ratio for a maximum conversion of NO. Based on the steady-state NO conversion data, a correlation between the reactor performance and the feed concentration has been developed, and the feasibility of Pt-based catalysts for lean-NO_x reduction is discussed in terms of their activity, selectivity and durability.     

Partial oxidation of light alkanes by NOx in the gas phase

Partial oxidations of CH₄, C₂H₆, C₃H₈, and iso-C₄H₁₀ with O₂ were promoted by addition of NO in the gas phase. The addition of NO increased the conversion rate of alkanes and decreased the initiation temperatures for the reactions. Moreover, selectivities and yields to oxygenates, aldehydes, ketones and alcohols, were remarkably improved by the addition of NO. The maxima of one-pass yields of oxygenates were 7% for CH₄, 11% for C₂H₆, 13% for C₃H₈, and 29% for iso-C₄H₁₀. It is suggested that NO₂ produced from NO and O₂ is the initiator for the oxidation of light alkanes. Alkyl nitrite was proposed as the reaction intermediate for the formation of oxygenates. The alkyl nitrite decomposes into oxygenates and NO that works as catalyst for the activation of O₂ and the oxidation of alkanes.     

The reduction phase in NOx storage catalysis: Effect of type of precious metal and reducing agent

The effect of different reducing agents (H₂, CO, C₃H₆ and C₃H₈) on the reduction of stored NO_x over PM/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalysts (PM = Pt, Pd or Rh) at 350, 250 and 150 °C was studied by the use of both NO₂-TPD and transient reactor experiments. With the aim of comparing the different reducing agents and precious metals, constant molar reduction capacity was used during the reduction period for samples with the same molar amount of precious metal. The results reveal that H₂ and CO have a relatively high NO_x reduction efficiency compared to C₃H₆ and especially C₃H₈ that does not show any NO_x reduction ability except at 350 °C over Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃. The type of precious metals affects the NO_x storage-reduction properties, where the Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows both a high storage and a high reduction ability. The Rh/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows a high reduction ability but a relatively low NO_x storage capacity.     

Synthesis of C2H4 by partial oxidation of CH4 over LiCl/NiO

Alkali halide added transition metal oxides produced ethylene selectively in oxidative coupling of methane. The role of alkali halides has been investigated for LiCl-added NiO (LiCl/NiO). In the absence of LiCl the reaction over NiO produced only carbon oxides (CO₂ + CO). However, addition of LiCl drastically improved the yield of C₂ compounds (C₂H₆ + C₂H₄). One of the roles of LiCl is to inhibit the catalytic activity of the host NiO for deep oxidation of CH₄. The reaction catalyzed by the LiCl/NiO proceeds stepwise from CH₄ to C₂H₄ through C₂H₆ (2CH₄ → C₂H₆ → C₂H₄). The study on the oxidation of C₂H₆ over the LiCl/NiO showed that the oxidative dehydrogenation of C₂H₆ to C₂H₄ occurs very selectively, which is the main reason why partial oxidation of CH₄ over LiCl/NiO gives C₂H₄ quite selectively. The other role of LiCl is to prevent the host oxide (NiO) from being reduced by CH₄. The catalyst model under working conditions was suggested to be the NiO covered with molten LiCl. XPS studies suggested that the catalytically active species on the LiCl/NiO is a surface compound oxide which has higher valent nickel cations (Ni^(2+δ)+ or Ni³⁺). The catalyst was deactivated at the temperatures>973 K due to vaporization of LiCl and consumption of chlorine during reaction. The kinetic and CH₄---CD₄ exchange studies suggested that the rate-determining step of the reaction is the abstraction of H from the vibrationally excited methane by the molecular oxygen adsorbed on the surface compound oxide.     

The catalytic activity of FeOx/ZrO2 for the abatement of NO with propene in the presence of O2

FeO_x/ZrO₂ samples, prepared by impregnation with Fe(NO₃)₃, were characterised by means of DRS, XRD, FTIR, redox cycles and volumetric CO adsorption. Volumetric CO adsorption, combined with FTIR, showed that 45% of iron in the sample containing 2.8 Fe atoms nm⁻² was capable of forming iron carbonyls. DRS evidenced Fe₂O₃ on samples with Fe-content≥2.8 atoms nm⁻². The selective catalytic reduction of NO with C₃H₆ in the presence of O₂ was studied with a reactant mixture containing NO=4000 ppm, C₃H₆=4000 ppm, O₂=2%. The dependence on iron-content suggests that only isolated iron, prevailing in dilute FeO_x/ZrO₂, is active for NO reduction, whereas iron on the surface of small oxide particles, prevailing in concentrated FeO_x/ZrO₂, is active for C₃H₆ combustion.     

Reactivity of steam in exhaust gas catalysis III. Steam and oxygen/steam conversions of propane on a Pd/Al2O3 catalyst

A 1% Pd catalyst (38% dispersion) was prepared by impregnating a γ-alumina with palladium acetylacetonate dissolved in acetone. The behaviour of this catalyst in oxidation and steam reforming (SR) of propane was investigated. Temperature-programmed reactions of C₃H₈ with O₂ or with O₂ + H₂O were carried out with different stoichiometric ratios S(S =[O₂]/5[C₃H₈]). The conversion profiles of C₃H₈ for the reaction carried out in substoichiometry of O₂ (S < 1) showed two discrete domains of conversion: oxidation at temperatures below 350°C and SR at temperatures above 350°C. The presence of steam in the inlet gases is not necessary for SR to occur: there is sufficient water produced in the oxidation to form H₂ and carbon oxides by this reaction. Contrary to what was observed with Pt, an apparent deactivation between 310 and 385°C could be observed with Pd in oxidation. This is due to a reduction of PdO_x into Pd⁰, which is much less active than the oxide in propane oxidation. Steam added to the reactants inhibits oxidation while it prevents the reduction of PdO_x into Pd⁰. Compared to Pt and to Rh, Pd has a higher thermal resistance: no deactivation occurred after treatment up to 700°C and limited deactivation after treatment up to 900°C, provided that the catalyst is maintained in an oxygen-rich atmosphere during the cooling.     

A comparative study of Ag/Al2O3 and Cu/Al2O3 catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NO by C3H6

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by C₃H₆ in excess oxygen was evaluated and compared over Ag/Al₂O₃ and Cu/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Ag/Al₂O₃ showed a high activity for NO reduction. However, Cu/Al₂O₃ showed a high activity for C₃H₆ oxidation. The partial oxidation of C₃H₆ gave surface enolic species and acetate species on the Ag/Al₂O₃, but only an acetate species was clearly observed on the Cu/Al₂O₃. The enolic species is a more active intermediate towards NO + O₂ to yield—NCO species than the acetate species on the Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The Ag and Cu metal loadings and phase changes on Al₂O₃ support can affect the activity and selectivity of Ag/Al₂O₃ and Cu/Al₂O₃ catalysts, but the formation of enolic species is the main reason why the activity of the Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst for NO reduction is higher than that of the Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Support-induced promotional effects on the activity of automotive exhaust catalysts 1. The case of oxidation of light hydrocarbons (C2H4)

The kinetics of oxidation of a light hydrocarbon (C₂H₄) were studied on catalysts comprising of combinations of one of three metals, Pt, Pd or Rh supported on five different supports, that is, SiO₂, γ-Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ (8% Y₂O₃), TiO₂ or TiO₂ (W⁶⁺). Significant variation of turnover frequency with the carrier was observed, which cannot be explained by structure sensitivity considerations and is attributed to interactions between the metal crystallites and the carrier. The catalytic activity of these metal-support combinations was investigated over a wide range of partial pressures of ethylene and oxygen. In a separate set of experiments, the kinetics of C₂H₄ oxidation were also investigated on polycrystalline Rh films interfaced with ZrO₂ (8 mol% Y₂O₃) solid electrolyte in a galvanic cell of the type: C₂H₄, O₂, Rh/YSZ/Pt, air, during regular open-circuit conditions as well as under Non-Faradic Electrochemical Modification of Catalytic Activity (NEMCA), that is, closed-circuit conditions. Up to 100-fold increase in catalytic activity was observed by supplying O²⁻ ions to the catalyst surface via positive potential application to the catalyst. The observed kinetic behavior upon increasing catalyst potential parallels qualitatively the observed alteration of turnover frequency with variation of the support of the Rh crystallites.     

Comparison between methane and propylene as reducing agents in the SCR of NO over Pd supported on tungstated zirconia

It is now well known that when Pd is supported on acidic supports, it becomes highly selective for the reduction of NO by methane in the presence of excess oxygen. It is also known that this promoting effect not only occurs with acidic zeolite supports, but also with acidic zirconia supports, such as sulfated zirconia (SZ) and tungstated zirconias (WZ). However, this promoting effect has not been investigated for the SCR with other hydrocarbons as reducing agents. In this contribution, we have investigated the behavior of a series of Pd/WZ catalysts and compared them using methane and propylene as reducing agents. The results show some important differences when the reducing agent is changed. For example, while with CH₄ the addition of W to the catalyst results in an increase in both NO and hydrocarbon conversion, with C₃H₆ it results in a decrease in activity. At the same time, while the presence of NO accelerates the activation of CH₄, it inhibits the activation of C₃H₆, moving its light-off to higher temperatures. Finally, an important difference between CH₄ and C₃H₆ as reducing agents is regarding the selectivity towards N₂ as opposed to N₂O. Using CH₄ resulted in much lower production of N₂O than using C₃H₆, over the entire temperature range investigated.