Journal of Catalysis, Vol.232, No.1, 27-33, 2005
Bifunctional mechanism for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx on Rh/sulfated titania
The selective catalytic reduction of NO by propene has been investigated on a series of Rh catalysts supported by sulfated titanias. The dispersion of Rh oxide was measured by FTIR, from the observation of NO adsorption, and the number of acid sites by gravimetry, from the observation of NH3 adsorption. The addition of sulfated titania to Rh/SiO2 as a mechanical mixture increased the rate of N-2 formation, and a higher rate was observed when Rh was supported on sulfated titania. A quantitative analysis of the influence of the acidity of the support shows that the activity for N2 increases with the number of acid sites. An increase in the surface of Rh oxide also leads to all increase in rate -up to a plateau, at which point the rate is limited by an acid-catalysed reaction. This behaviour is attributed to a bifunctional mechanism for the reaction. In the presence of 25 ppm Of SO2 and 3% water, these catalysts reach 40% yield in N-2 at a GHSV = 35,000 h(-1) with no loss of properties. © 2005 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Keywords:selective catalytic reduction;propene;rhodium;sulfated titania;sulfur dioxide;bifunctional catalysis;dispersion of oxides