Differences in the structure of copper active sites for decomposition and selective reduction of nitric oxide with hydrocarbons and ammonia

Cu ion co-ordination-location in zeolites of MFI, erionite, mordenite matrices has been determined and the activity of the individual Cu sites compared for NO decomposition and its selective reduction by hydrocarbons or ammonia. It appears that Cu ions in the vicinity of one framework Al (site II), able to form stable Cu⁺-dinitrosyl complexes, and abundant in MFI structure, are responsible for high activity in NO decomposition. The Cu ions neighbouring two framework Al atoms (site I), and forming mostly mononitrosyl complexes, which dominate in erionite structure, provide a high activity in selective reduction of NO.