Copper-exchanged mordenites as active catalysts for NO selective catalytic reduction by propene under oxidising conditions: Effect of Si/Al ratio, copper content and Brönsted acidity

Abstract

CuMOR catalysts with different Si/Al ratios and copper contents, prepared from the acid and sodium forms, were studied in NO reduction with propene in the presence of excess oxygen. It was observed that the influence of zeolite Si/Al ratio on CuMOR catalytic activity for NO SCR by propene depends on the catalyst copper content, the reverse being also true. For mordenites prepared from the acid form, it was shown that the most active catalyst must have ∼60% of copper exchange, whereas for those prepared from the sodium form, the maximum catalytic activity is obtained for catalysts with 20% of copper exchange. Moreover, it was observed that at low copper-exchange levels, the catalyst prepared from the sodium form exhibits much higher activity than those prepared from the acid form. Although, when the copper-exchange level increases, the effect of zeolite form is less pronounced. Thus, it was indicated that Brönsted acidity does not promote the NO selective reduction by propene.