2006 Volume 49 Issue 5 Pages 219-230
Ir/SiO2 and Rh/SiO2 catalysts showed excellent activity for NO reduction with CO or H2 in the presence of O2 and SO2. Ir/SiO2 catalyzed NO reduction with both CO and H2, whereas Rh/SiO2 catalyzed reduction only with H2. The most important characteristic was that coexistence of O2 and SO2 is essential for NO reduction to occur. Surface science investigation using Ir(111) single crystal model catalyst revealed that the atomic sulfur was formed via disproportionation of SO2 and reacted with oxygen adsorbed on the surface to form SO2, which desorbed from the surface. Therefore, the iridium surface reverted to its initial metallic state. FT-IR measurements on Ir/SiO2 also indicated that the SO2 both stabilized and created Ir0 sites in the oxidizing atmosphere. The addition of Li and Ba to Ir/SiO2 and Zn to Rh/SiO2 was quite effective to enhance the catalytic activity for NO reduction in the presence of O2 and SO2 by acting as oxidation retardant to prevent deactivation of the active Ir and Rh metals supported on SiO2.
