Effect of K2O on a Pd-Containing Catalytic Converter for Removing CO and HC Emissions from a Two-Stroke Motorcycle

Abstract

Noble metals (Pt, Pd, and Rh) supported on Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, K{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, CeO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, and K{sub 2}O/CeO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} were prepared and characterized with respect to surface area, pore volume, and temperature-programmed desorption of CO{sub 2}. The effects of K{sub 2}O on the noble-metal catalysts for carbon monoxide and hydrocarbon oxidation were investigated. The reactions were carried out under the stoichiometric and oxygen-deficient conditions. Under the stoichiometric point, the Pd-containing catalysts exhibit higher activity than the Pt-containing catalysts for both CO and C{sub 3}H{sub 6} oxidation. Moreover, Pd/K{sub 2}O/CeO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} is the most active catalyst among the powder catalysts in this study. Under the oxygen-deficient conditions and in the presence of water, the CO conversions on Pd/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Pd/CeO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} are significantly lower than those on Pt/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3} and Pt/CeO{sub 2}/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}, respectively. In contrast, the Pd-containing catalysts exhibit higher C{sub 3}H{sub 6} conversion than the Pt-containing catalysts. However, the CO conversions on the Pd-containing catalysts can be promoted by the addition of K{sub 2}O. On the other hand, the test results of the monolithic catalysts revealed that the CO conversion on PdRh/K{sub 2}O/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}--CeO{submore » 2} is quite close to that on PtRh/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CeO{sub 2} under the simulative gases and the ECE-40 mode driving cycle test. PtRh/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CeO{sub 2} is the typical composition of catalytic converters for two-stroke motorcycles. It infers that PdRh/K{sub 2}O/Al{sub 2}O{sub 3}-CeO{sub 2} is a promising catalytic converter for a two-stroke motorcycle.« less