Removal of nitrogen monoxide through a novel catalytic process. 1. Decomposition on excessively copper-ion-exchanged ZSM-5 zeolites

Abstract

Repeated ion exchange of the ZSM-5 zeolite using aqueous copper(II) acetate solution was found to bring about excess loading of copper ions above an exchange level of 100%. The high activity of the resulting catalyst for NO decomposition was consistent for at least 30 h even at short contact time and low NO pressure. The number of copper ions that can adsorb NO molecules has been determined by a temperature-programmed desorption technique combined with IR measurement; 94% of Cu{sup 2+} ions in ZSM-5 were active for the adsorption. The activity of excessively copper ion exchanged ZSM-5 zeolite was slightly reduced by the oxygen in the feed gas while that of zeolite, of which the loading amount of copper was less than 100%, was greatly diminished under the same condition. SO{sub 2} completely poisons the activity at 673-923 K, but the activity can be regenerated at the higher temperature treatment.