Critical role of water in the direct oxidation of CO and hydrocarbons in diesel exhaust after treatment catalysis

- CO and propene oxidation examined over Pd/Al2O3.
- Use of isotopically labelled 18O2 to probe the reaction mechanism.
- In the presence of water, most of the oxidation is due to the water and not dioxygen.
- Role of dioxygen is thought to be to react with surface hydrogen.