Effect of aging on the NOx storage and regeneration characteristics of fully formulated lean NOx trap catalysts

In order to elucidate the effect of washcoat composition on lean NOx trap (LNT) aging characteristics, fully formulated monolithic LNT catalysts containing varying amounts of Pt, Rh and BaO were subjected to accelerated aging on a bench reactor. Subsequent catalyst evaluation revealed that in all cases aging resulted in deterioration of the NOx conversion as a consequence of impaired NOx storage and NOx reduction functions, while increased selectivity to NH3 was observed in the temperature range 250–450 °C. Elemental analysis, H2 chemisorption and TEM data revealed two main changes which account for the degradation in LNT performance. First, residual sulfur in the catalysts, associated with the Ba phase, decreased catalyst NOx storage capacity. Second, sintering of the precious metals in the washcoat occurred, resulting in decreased contact between the Pt and Ba, and hence in less efficient NOx spillover from Pt to Ba during NOx adsorption, as well as decreased rates of reductant spillover from Pt to Ba and reverse NOx spillover during catalyst regeneration. For the aged catalysts, halving the Pt loading from 100 to 50 g/ft3 was found to result in a significant decrease in overall NOx conversion, while for catalysts with the same 100 g/ft3 Pt loading, increasing the relative amount of Pt on the NOx storage components (BaO and La-stabilized CeO2), as opposed to an Al2O3 support material (where it was co-located with Rh), was found to be beneficial. The effect of Rh loading on aged catalyst performance was found to be marginal within the range studied (10–20 g/ft3), as was the effect of BaO loading in the range 30–45 g/L.

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► This study concerns the effect washcoat composition on LNT aging characteristics.
► Aged catalysts exhibited decreased efficiency for NOx storage and regeneration.
► Aging resulted in segregation of Pt and Ba due to Pt sintering.
► Sulfur accumulation in the washcoat was also observed.
► A high Pt loading was beneficial for catalyst activity after aging.