A Sol–Gel Derived CuOx/Al2O3–ZrO2 Catalyst for the Selective Reduction of NO by Propane in the Presence of Excess Oxygen

Abstract

Copper catalysts supported on alumina-doped zirconia were prepared by sol–gel processing followed by supercritical drying or aging in the mother solution at 100 °C. After drying and calcination, the catalyst supports were impregnated with a copper(II) nitrate aqueous solution by the incipient wetness method to achieve a Cu loading of about 2%. The samples showed ∼90% NO conversion at 350–400 °C. The catalytic performance of these systems appears to be determined by the degree of clustering of copper cations as probed by FTIR spectroscopy of adsorbed CO.