An electrochemically assisted NOx storage/reduction catalyst operating under fixed lean burn conditions

This study reports the possibility of working in NOx storage/reduction process under fixed lean burn reaction conditions by using a tubular Pt/K-βAl2O3/Pt electrochemical catalyst. This system allows to electrochemically trap NOx as potassium nitrates in the film polarized negatively, and simultaneously to regenerate from storage compounds the opposite catalyst film (polarized positively), both working under the same lean burn atmosphere. In addition, it has been shown that the system is able to store CO2 as potassium carbonates. The obtained results have been supported by linear sweep voltammetry carried out under different reaction conditions which has provided useful information about the different competitive trapping processes.