Microwave-assisted catalytic reduction of NO into N2 by activated carbon supported Mn2O3 at low temperature under O2 excess

•Microwave-assisted catalytic reduction of NO is of high efficiency and selectivity.•Mn2O3/AC is more active than AC for NO reduction under microwave irradiation.•The outlet gas temperature under microwave irradiation is still at room temperature.

The catalytic reduction of NO by AC with high activity and selectivity to N2 at low temperature under O2 excess is a challenge. Herein, we report a novel method for selective catalytic reduction of NO into N2 by activated carbon supported Mn2O3 in the microwave catalytic reaction mode. Furthermore, the effects of a series of reaction parameters, including microwave heating behavior, reaction temperature, outlet gas temperature, Mn2O3 loading, microwave input power and O2 concentration have been investigated. Novel results were observed that microwave-assisted catalytic reduction of NO into N2 over Mn2O3/AC is of high efficiency with 98.7% NO conversion and 99.8% NO selectivity to N2 at temperature as low as 300 °C under O2 excess. We also found that microwave irradiation exhibited microwave selective effect in the microwave catalytic reaction mode. The microwave catalytic reaction mode is a viable and promising method for flue gas control using selective catalytic reduction of NO by AC compared with the conventional reaction mode.