The activity and characterization of sol–gel Sn/Al2O3 catalyst for selective catalytic reduction of NOx in the presence of oxygen

Catalytic performance of Sn/Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared by impregnation (IM) and sol–gel (SG) method for selective catalytic reduction of NO_x by propene under lean burn condition were investigated. The physical properties of catalyst were characterized by BET, XRD, XPS and TPD. The results showed that NO₂ had higher reactivity than NO to nitrogen, the maximum NO conversion was 82% on the 5% Sn/Al₂O₃ (SG) catalyst, and the maximum NO₂ conversion reached nearly 100% around 425 °C. Such a temperature of maximum NO conversion was in accordance with those of NO_x desorption accompanied with O₂ around 450 °C. The activity of NO reduction was enhanced remarkably by the presence of H₂O and SO₂ at low temperature, and the temperature window was also broadened in the presence of H₂O and SO₂, however the NO_x desorption and NO conversion decreased sharply on the 300 ppm SO₂ treated catalyst, the catalytic activity was inhibited by the presence of SO₂ due to formation of sulfate species (SO₄^2?) on the catalysts. The presence of oxygen played an essential role in NO reduction, and the activity of the 5% Sn/Al₂O₃ (SG) was not decreased in the presence of large oxygen.