The Role of Lattice Oxygen in the Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx on V2O5/TiO2 Catalysts

In situ electrical conductivity measurements on V2O5-WO3/TiO2 catalysts were carried out at between 100 and 300 degrees C under pure oxygen, NO and NH3 to investigate the reaction mechanism for ammonia SCR (selective catalytic reduction) de NOX. The electrical conductivity of catalysts changed irregularly with supply of NO. It was, however, found that the electrical conductivity change with ammonia supply was regular and the increase of electrical conductivity was mainly caused by reduction of the labile surface oxygen. The electrical conductivity change of catalysts showed close relationship with the conversion rate of NOx. Variation of conversion rate in atmosphere without gaseous oxygen also showed that labile lattice oxygen is indispensable in the initial stage of the de NOx reaction. These results suggest that liable lattice oxygen acts decisive rule in the de NOx mechanism. They also support that de NOx reaction occurs through the Eley?Rideal type mechanism. The amount of labile oxygen can be estimated from the measurement of electrical conductivity change for catalysts with ammonia supply. This suggests that measurement of the change can be used as a measure of the de NOx performance.