Selective catalytic reduction of NO by C2H2 over Ce-Al2O3 catalyst with rate-determining step of NO oxidation

Ce-Al2O3 catalysts prepared by co-precipitation are investigated both in NO oxidation by O2 and in selective catalytic reduction of NO by C2H2 (C2H2-SCR). It is found that C2H2-SCR is initiated and controlled by NO oxidation to NO2 over Al2O3. Ce loading on Al2O3 is almost inactive for NO oxidation below 350°C, since NO2 strongly adsorbs on cerium oxide, leading to the active sites being blocked, which was characterized by temperature-programmed desorption of NO and NO2 and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy after NO+O2 coadsorption over the samples. However, in the case of C2H2-SCR, Ce loading on Al2O3 significantly improves the reaction by accelerating the NO oxidation step in the temperature range of 250–450°C, since the nitrate species produced by NO2 adsorption is an active intermediate required by C2H2-SCR.