SO2 Poisoning and Recovery of Copper-Based Activated Carbon Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3 at Low Temperature

Abstract

A series of materials based on activated carbon (AC) with copper deposited in various amounts were prepared using an incipient wetness impregnation method and tested as catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia. The samples were poisoned with SO2 and regenerated in order to analyze their susceptibility to deactivation by the harmful component of exhaust gas. NO conversion over the fresh catalyst doped with 10 wt.% of Cu reached 81% of NO conversion at 140 °C and about 90% in the temperature range of 260–300 °C. The rate of poisoning with SO2 was dependent on Cu loading, but in general, it lowered NO conversion due to the formation of (NH4)2SO4 deposits that blocked the active sites of the catalysts. After regeneration, the catalytic activity of the materials was restored and NO conversion exceeded 70% for all of the samples.