Promotional Effect of Cerium and/or Zirconium Doping on Cu/ZSM-5 Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by NH3

Abstract

The cerium and/or zirconium-doped Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts (CuCexZr1−xOy/ZSM-5) were prepared by ion exchange and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), temperature-programmed reduction by hydrogen (H2-TPR). Activities of the catalysts obtained on the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitric oxide (NO) by ammonia were measured using temperature programmed reactions. Among all the catalysts tested, the CuCe0.75Zr0.25Oy/ZSM-5 catalyst presented the highest catalytic activity for the removal of NO, corresponding to the broadest active window of 175–468 °C. The cerium and zirconium addition enhanced the activity of catalysts, and the cerium-rich catalysts exhibited more excellent SCR activities as compared to the zirconium-rich catalysts. XRD and TEM results indicated that zirconium additions improved the copper dispersion and prevented copper crystallization. According to XPS and H2-TPR analysis, copper species were enriched on the ZSM-5 grain surfaces, and part of the copper ions were incorporated into the zirconium and/or cerium lattice. The strong interaction between copper species and cerium/zirconium improved the redox abilities of catalysts. Furthermore, the introduction of zirconium abates N2O formation in the tested temperature range.