Automotive catalytic converters: current status and some perspectives

Research on the selective reduction of NOx with hydrocarbons under lean-burn conditions using non-zeolitic oxides and platinum group metal (PGM) catalysts has been critically reviewed. Alumina and silver-promoted alumina catalysts have been described in detail with particular emphasis on an analysis of the various reaction mechanisms that have been put forward in the literature. The influence of the nature of the reducing agent, and the preparation and structure of the catalysts have also been discussed and rationalised for several other oxide systems. It is concluded for non-zeolitic oxides that species that are strongly adsorbed on the surface, such as nitrates/nitrites and acetates, could be key intermediates in the formation of various reduced and oxidised species of nitrogen, the further reaction of which leads eventually to the formation of molecular nitrogen. For the platinum group metal catalysts, the different mechanisms that have been proposed in the literature have been critically assessed. It is concluded that although there is indirect, mainly spectroscopic, evidence for various reaction intermediates on the catalyst surface, it is difficult to confirm that any of these are involved in a critical mechanistic step because of a lack of a direct quantitative correlation between infrared and kinetic measurements. A simple mechanism which involves the dissociation of NO on a reduced metal surface to give N(ads) and O(ads), with subsequent desorption of N2 and N2O and removal of O(ads) by the reductant can explain many of the results with the platinum group metal catalysts, although an additional contribution from organo-nitro-type species may contribute to the overall NOx reduction activity with these catalysts. It is concluded, after the investigation of hundreds of catalyst formulations, that many of the fundamental questions relating to lean deNOx reactions have been addressed and the main boundary conditions have been established. It seems clear that catalysts with sufficient activity, selectivity or stability to satisfy the demanding conditions that appertain in automotive applications are still far away. The rapidly growing interest in NOx storage systems reflects this situation, and it now seems to be the case that acceptable direct NOx reduction catalysts may be very difficult to find for lean-burn applications.

A review of the selective reduction of NOx, with hydrocarbons under lean-burn conditions with non-zeolitic oxide and platinum group metal catalysts

Catalytic NOx Abatement Systems for Mobile Sources: From Three-Way to Lean Burn after-Treatment Technologies Pascal Granger* and Vasile I. Parvulescu* Unit e de Catalyse et de Chimie du Solide, UMR CNRS 8181, University of Lille 1, 59655 Villeneuve d’Ascq, France Department of Organic Chemistry, Biochemistry and Catalysis, University of Bucharest, Romania, 412 Regina Elisabeta Boulevard, Bucharest 030016, Romania

Catalytic NOx Abatement Systems for Mobile Sources: From Three-Way to Lean Burn after-Treatment Technologies

Catalysis for NOx abatement

During the last few decades, concerns have grown on the negative effects that diesel particulate matter has on health. Because of this, particulate emissions were subjected to restrictions and various emission-reduction technologies were developed. It is ironic that some of these technologies led to reductions in the legislated total particulate mass while neglecting the number of particles. Focusing on the mass is not necessarily correct, because it might well be that not the mass but the number of particles and the characteristics of them (size, composition) have a higher impact on health. To eliminate the threat of diesel particulate matter, essentially absolute filtration in combination with the oxidation of all emitted hydrocarbons is what will be required. After two decades of development, the first filters will soon be introduced on a large scale. Many different problems had to be overcome; it was especially important that the filter was robust and its regeneration was controllable. The key technol...

Science and technology of catalytic diesel particulate filters

A predominant challenge to both industrial and academic research institutions is the selective reduction of NOx during lean exhaust conditions. Despite a proliferation of publications, papers and reviews, a large number of catalysts fall short of a credible and consistent diesel application. Herein are reviewed systems designed specifically with the goal of assisting researchers in their assessment of catalytic performance. By way of conclusion, three principal types of catalysts active for HC-SCR are discussed.

A. Fritz

Papers

The current state of research on automotive lean NOx catalysis