Promotional effect of ion-exchanged K on the low-temperature hydrothermal stability of Cu/SAPO-34 and its synergic application with Fe/Beta catalysts

Kions were introduced onto Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts via the ion-exchange process in order to improve their stability under low-temperature hydrothermal aging. The changes in structure and copper-species contents of these catalysts upon hydrothermal aging were probed in order to investigate their effects on selective catalytic reduction (SCR) activity. For the fresh Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts, K ions had little influence on the chabazite framework but effected their acidities by exchanging with acid sites. After hydrothermal aging, the structural integrity and amount of active sites decreased on pure Cu/SAPO-34. While the K-loaded catalysts showed improved chabazite structure, acidity, and active site conservation with increasing K loading. However, although the 0.7 wt% K catalyst maintained the same crystallinity, active site abundance, and low-temperature SCR activity as the fresh catalyst upon aging, an apparent decrease in SCR activity at high temperature was observed because of the inevitable decrease in the number of Bronsted acid sites. To compensate for the activity disadvantage of K-loaded Cu/SAPO-34 at high temperature, Fe/Beta catalysts were co-employed with K-loaded Cu/SAPO-34, and a wide active temperature window of SCR activity was obtained. Thus, our study reveals that a combined system comprising Fe/Beta and K-loaded Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts shows promise for the elimination of NO(x)in real-world applications. (c) Higher Education Press 2020

Automated summary

The introduction of potassium ions into Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts via ion exchange improves their stability during low-temperature hydrothermal aging. The catalysts with potassium loading exhibit improved structure, acidity, and active site conservation after hydrothermal aging. A combined system of Fe/Beta and potassium-loaded Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts shows potential for NO(x) elimination in real-world applications.