Iron, lanthanum and manganese oxides loaded on γ-Al2O3 for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 at low temperature

A series of Mn/Al2O3, La-Mn/Al2O3 and Fe-La-Mn/Al2O3 catalysts were prepared by an impregnation method and investigated for selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 at low temperature. The experimental results revealed that NO conversion over La-Mn/Al2O3 was obviously improved after La doping. Addition of Fe increased both NO conversion and the resistance to H2O and SO2. The catalyst Fe0.04La0.03Mn0.06/Al2O3 with a load mass of MnO 2=6%, La2O3=3% and Fe2O3=4% exhibited relatively high catalytic activity and yielded 98% NO conversion at 260 degrees with a space velocity of 15, 000 h-1. Meanwhile, the catalytic activity was slightly decreased in the presence of H2O and SO2. Moreover, the catalysts were characterized by N2 adsorption measurement, X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that the doping of La enhanced the dispersion and oxidation states of Mn on the surface of Al2O3. On the surface of the Fe0.04La0.03Mn0.06/Al2O3 catalyst, La was highly dispersed and a mixed oxidation state of Mn existed, while iron ions were only in the Fe3+ state. The mechanism of selective catalytic reduction over these catalysts is also discussed. In this experiment, metal oxides loaded on the support were catalytic centres which served as electron transfer during NO reduction. The electron transfer between Mn3+ and Fe3+ might also exist and the mixture oxidation states of Mn on the surface of the Fe 0.04La0.03Mn0.06/Al2O3 catalyst contributed to the SCR activity.