The catalytic activity of Cu-ZSM-5 and Cu-Y zeolites in NO decomposition: dependence on copper concentration

NO decomposition was studied on Cu-ZSM-5 (Cu exchange extent from 23 to 210%) and Cu-Y (Cu exchange extent from 5 to 105%) catalysts at 773 K. The results show that the activity (NO molecules decomposed per gram of catalyst per second) increases by roughly 100-fold when the extent of exchange with copper in the ZSM-5 framework increases from 80 to 100%. This behaviour shows that not all Cu sites are equivalent in their decomposition activity. Cu-ZSM-5 samples prepared with either H-ZSM-5 or Na-ZSM-5 show the same activity pattern.