NO decomposition on mordenite-supported Pd and Cu catalysts

In this work palladium and copper catalysts supported on mordenite were prepared by ionic exchange, characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), porosimetry (BET surface areas), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), H2 and CO chemisorption, induced coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and tested in the direct decomposition of NO. The results showed that the monometallic catalysts maintained their structure and surface area. This did not happen with the bimetallic catalysts that had their surface area decreased, probably due to blockage of the zeolite pores. All the catalysts were active in the NO decomposition reactions and more selective to N2 and O2 than catalysts based on alumina reported in a previous work.