Towards a single brick solution for the abatement of NOx and soot from diesel engine exhausts

Nano-structured perovskite-type lanthanum ferrites La1 − xAxFe1 − yByO3 (where A = Na, K, Rb and B = Cu), prepared by the solution combustion synthesis (SCS) method and characterized by BET, XRD, FESEM, AAS and catalytic activity tests in microreactors as well as on an engine bench, proved to be effective in the simultaneous removal of soot and NO, the two prevalent pollutants in diesel exhaust gases in the temperature range 350–450 °C. The best compromise between soot and nitrogen oxide abatement was shown by the La-K-Cu-FeO3 catalyst which displayed the highest catalytic activity towards carbon combustion and the highest NO conversion activity.