Changing active sites in Cu-CHA catalysts: deNOx selectivity as a function of the preparation method

The selective catalytic reduction of NOx with ammonia (NH3-SCR) has been studied over Cu-CHA catalysts in which the loading of copper species was achieved using three different synthetic routes: two are based on post-synthetic treatment of the zeolite material (via aqueous or vapor phase) and a third involves the direct synthesis of a Cu-loaded SAPO-34. The catalysts were subsequently characterized by XRD, solid-state NMR, UV-vis and XAFS spectroscopies. Whilst the catalysts prepared via wet chemical routes show excellent deNO(x) activity and high selectivity to N-2, the one prepared via chemical vapor deposition gave the undesired product N2O in significant quantities. Isolated mononuclear Cu2+ ions in the vicinity of six-membered rings (6mrs, part of the d6r sub-units of CHA) were found to be active sites in both catalysts prepared via the wet chemical approaches. In contrast, XAFS data revealed that the catalyst prepared via chemical vapor deposition possesses Cu in two different environments: isolated Cu2+ cations and CuAlO2-type species. Catalytic experiments revealed a strong correlation between the number of isolated mononuclear Cu2+ in or near the plane of the 6m rings and N-2 production, whereas the presence of CuAlO2 species appears to promote the formation of undesired N2O. (C) 2012 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.