Soot combustion over CeO2 catalyst: the influence of biodiesel impurities (Na, K, Ca, P) on surface chemical properties

This work assessed the impact of biodiesel impurities on CeO2 catalyst for soot combustion via soot-TPO experiments. The results showed that Na- and K-doped catalysts were assisted for soot combustion, while Ca- and P-doped catalysts had a negative effect. N-2 adsorption-desorption and XRD results indicated that doping biodiesel impurities led to smaller surface area by blocking small pores. Surface chemical properties are suggested as major reasons for promoting soot combustion by means of XPS, H-2-TPR, and O-2-TPD. Na- and K-doped catalysts showed stronger redox ability and surface lattice oxygen mobility, poorly for Ca- and P-doped catalysts. Interestingly, a large number of surface oxygen species were observed on P-doped catalyst and it enhanced the ignition of bio soot. In the presence of NO, surface chemical properties including NOx storage/release capacity and NO oxidation ability were characterized by NO-adsorption DRIFTS, NO-TPO and NOx-desorption DRIFTS, alkali-doped catalyst with excellent NOx storage capacity that can release active oxygen species and gaseous NO2 accelerate heterogeneous soot combustion, and the poor NO conversion ability to NO2 that weakens the promotion effect of soot combustion. Particularly in the existence of P, the promotion effect of soot elimination in NO + O-2 was further weakened by the reason of poor NOx storage capacity and NO oxidation ability.

Automated summary

This study found that Na- and K-doped catalysts have a promoting effect on soot combustion, while Ca- and P-doped catalysts have a negative impact. Doping biodiesel impurities led to a smaller surface area by blocking small pores. Surface chemical properties, including NO oxidation/storage capacity, play a significant role in promoting soot combustion.