A novel and environmentally friendly SO42−/CeO2 catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

•The 2.5 wt.% SO42−/CeO2 catalyst showed over 90% NO conversion at 229–485 °C.•The amount and strength of acid sites were increased by the addition of SO42−.•The surface acidity improved the SCR activity and N2 selectivity of SO42−/CeO2.•Only stable (1 1 1) lattice plane of CeO2 is observed on the SO42−/CeO2 catalyst.

The SO42−/CeO2 catalyst showed excellent catalytic activity and remarkable resistance to H2O and SO2 for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3. The SO42−/CeO2 catalyst with 2.5 wt.% SO42− content exhibited more than 90% of NO conversion at 229–485 °C. The characterization results revealed that the SO42− species were highly dispersed on the surface of CeO2 in the SO42−/CeO2 catalyst. Moreover, the addition of SO42− into CeO2 obviously increased the surface Lewis and Brønsted acid sites, and it was found that only stable (1 1 1) lattice planes of CeO2 can be observed on the SO42−/CeO2 catalyst.

Graphical abstractNovel SO42− modified CeO2 catalyst with 2.5 wt.% SO42− loadings showed more than 90% NO conversion and above 98% N2 selectivity at 229–485 °C. This is due to the co-existence of Brønsted and Lewis sites with appropriate acidity.Figure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slide