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Effect of Alkali Promoters (K) on Nitrous Oxide Abatement Over Ir/Al2O3 Catalysts

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Abstract

The promoting impact of potassium (0–1 wt% K) on nitrous oxide (N2O) catalytic decomposition over Ir/Al2O3 is investigated under both oxygen deficient and oxygen excess conditions. All samples were characterized by means of X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), temperature-programmed reduction (H2-TPR), ammonia desorption (NH3-TPD) and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of pyridine adsorption (FTIR-Pyridine). The results reveal that the K-free Ir/Al2O3 catalyst consists mainly of the IrO2 phase, exhibiting also significant Lewis acidity, which is gradually eliminated by the addition of K. Catalytic performance results showed that the deN2O performance in the absence of O2 in the feed mixture is negatively affected upon increasing potassium loading. However, under oxygen excess conditions, a pronounced effect of K is observed. Although the catalytic performance of the un-doped catalyst is drastically hindered by the presence of O2, the K-promotion notably prohibits the oxygen poisoning. The optimum deN2O performance under oxygen excess conditions is obtained with potassium loading of 0.5 wt% K, which offers complete conversion of N2O at 580 °C, instead of the corresponding 50 % N2O conversion achieved with the un-modified sample. On the basis of characterization results, it was concluded that alkali-doping in combination with oxygen excess conditions are required towards the formation of active Ir entities.

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Acknowledgments

This research has been co-financed by European Union (European Social Fund) and Greek national funds through Operational Program “Education and Lifelong Learning” of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF)-Research Funding Program: THALES-Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund (MIS 375643).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100, Kozani, Greece

    E. Papista & G. Ε. Marnellos

  2. Chemical Process and Energy Resources Institute (CPERI), Centre for Research and Technology Hellas (CERTH), 57001, Thermi, Thessaloniki, Greece

    E. Pachatouridou, G. Ε. Marnellos & E. Iliopoulou

  3. School of Production Engineering and Management, Technical University of Crete, 73100, Chania, Crete, Greece

    E. Pachatouridou & M. Konsolakis

  4. Department of Environmental and Pollution Control Engineering, Technological Educational Institute of Western Macedonia (TEIWM), 50100, Koila, Kozani, Greece

    M. A. Goula

  5. Department of Environmental Engineering, University of Western Macedonia, 50100, Kozani, Greece

    G. Ε. Marnellos

  6. School of Environmental Engineering, Technical University of Crete, 73100, Chania, Crete, Greece

    I. V. Yentekakis

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  1. E. Papista
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Correspondence to E. Papista.

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Papista, E., Pachatouridou, E., Goula, M.A. et al. Effect of Alkali Promoters (K) on Nitrous Oxide Abatement Over Ir/Al2O3 Catalysts. Top Catal 59, 1020–1027 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-016-0584-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-016-0584-0

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