Simultaneous SO{sub 2}/NO{sub x} abatement using zeolite-supported copper. Progress report, January 1--March 31, 1996

The authors have begun the investigation of the adsorption of NO on the Cu/{gamma}-alumina samples. The object of this aspect of the project is to investigate the modes of adsorption of NO on the Cu/{gamma}-alumina sorbents, to investigate the potential activity of these materials for the catalysis of the reduction of NO. Additionally, when subsequent measurements of NO interacting with a sulfated sorbent are investigated, a baseline of data will have been obtained which can be used to evaluate the effects of surface sulfation on the adsorption process in the absence of other competing effects. Based on the current results and by comparing results with those found by others, the authors have determined that the copper species exist predominantly as isolated copper atoms on the aluminum oxide surface, which behave chemically as copper aluminate. The copper species is responsible for the formation of an NO/Cu{sup 2+} complex which gives rise to an infrared absorption at 1,863 cm{sup {minus}1}. There do exist some Cu{sup +} species on the surface, which are formed only after some time by an interaction with NO, which give rise to an NO{sup {minus}}/Cu{sup +} complex with an infrared absorption at approximately 1,700 cm{sup {minus}1}. Additionally, an intense feature at 1,640 cm{sup {minus}1} is observed which may be due to NO{sub 2} on the surface, which is the expected oxidation product if NO reduces Cu from Cu{sup 2+} to Cu{sup +}