Methane oxidation by NO and O2 from reverse spillover on alumina supported palladium catalysts

Pd/Al2O3 was tested for the selective reduction of NO and simultaneous oxidation of methane by NO and O2 from reverse spillover on alumina supported palladium. The results of CH4/Ar and CH4/NO/Ar experiments clearly demonstrated the two sources of surface oxygen species able to oxidize the methane. When oxygen from the reverse spillover is totally consumed, the reaction NO/CH4 is stoichiometric, all oxygen come from the NO dissociation. The role of methane is similar to CO in TWC since methane removes the oxygen, from NO dissociation on the cationic sites of Pd atoms, and permits the reaction to proceed further.