Co-Mn-Al mixed oxides promoted by K for direct NO decomposition: Effect of preparation parameters

Abstract

Fundamental research on direct NO decomposition is still needed for the design of a sufficiently active, stable and selective catalyst. Co-based mixed oxides promoted by alkali metals are promising catalysts for direct NO decomposition, but which parameters play the key role in NO decomposition over mixed oxide catalysts? How do applied preparation conditions affect the obtained catalyst's properties? Co4MnAlOx mixed oxides promoted by potassium calcined at various conditions were tested for direct NO decomposition with the aim to determine their activity, stability and selectivity. The catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation of the corresponding nitrates and subsequently promoted by KNO3. The catalysts were characterized by atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)/inductive coupled plasma (ICP), X-ray photoelectron spectrometry (XPS), XRD, N-2 physisorption, temperature programmed desorption of CO2 (TPD-CO2), temperature programmed reduction by hydrogen (TPR-H-2), species-resolved thermal alkali desorption (SR-TAD), work function measurement and STEM. The preparation procedure affects physico-chemical properties of the catalysts, especially those that are associated with the potassium promoter presence. The addition of K is essential for catalytic activity, as it substantially affects the catalyst reducibility and basicity-key properties of a deNO catalyst. However, SR-TAD revealed that potassium migration, redistribution and volatilization are strongly dependent on the catalyst calcination temperature-higher calcination temperature leads to potassium stabilization. It also caused the formation of new phases and thus affected the main properties-S-BET, crystallinity and residual potassium amount.