Correlation between the Cu/Al Value and Activity of Cu-ZSM-5 Catalysts and the Chemical Nature of the Starting Copper Salt

Abstract

Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts for the selective reduction of NO with propane were obtained by ion exchange between H-ZSM-5 zeolite and an aqueous or aqueous ammonia solution of a copper salt (acetate or nitrate). Their Cu/Al values (%) defined as 2 × 100 (Cu : Al), where Cu : Al is the copper-to-aluminum atomic ratio, were determined as a function of ion exchange pH, which was varied by changing the copper salt and solution concentration. Cu/Al is primarily determined by the chemical nature of the starting copper salt. For a given salt, it is governed by the salt concentration in the solution. At a fixed salt concentration, Cu/Al is always larger for copper acetate than for copper nitrate. It can be raised to ≫100% by using an aqueous ammonia solution of a copper salt. Furthermore, it increases with increasing Si/Al in the starting zeolite if the other ion exchange conditions are equal. Irrespective of preparation conditions, the catalytic activity of Cu-ZSM-5 grows in proportion to Cu/Al. It peaks at Cu/Al ∼ 100% and then remains constant up to Cu/Al ∼ 400%. In order to achieve Cu/Al ∼ 100%, it is most appropriate to use a copper acetate solution.