Promotional effects of Nb on selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 over Fex-Nb0.5-x-Ce0.5 (x = 0.45, 0.4, 0.35) oxides catalysts

Citric acid method was employed to prepare a series of Nb-promoted Fe x -Nb 0 . 5- x -Ce 0.5 ( x  = 0.45, 0.4, 0.35) oxides for selective catalytic reduction with NH 3 (NH 3 -SCR) of NO process. The structure, redox ability and reactivity of NH 3 and absorbed NO species on the catalysts were explored by using various characterization techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature program reduction with H 2 (H 2 -TPR), temperature program desorption of NH 3 (NH 3 -TPD), temperature program desorption of NO (NO-TPD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and in situ diffuse reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (DRIFTS). It was found that the Nb promoted Fe x -Nb 0 . 5- x -Ce 0.5 ( x  = 0.45, 0.4, 0.35) oxides catalysts showed outstanding NH 3 -SCR of NO activity, excellent N 2 selectivity and remarkable SO 2 /H 2 O resistance, meanwhile, Fe 0.4 -Nb 0.1 -Ce 0.5 exhibited above 90% NO conversion in the range of 180–400 °C, together with near 100% N 2 selectivity. The characterization results point out that the excellent catalytic performance of Fe 0.4 -Nb 0.1 -Ce 0.5 can be ascribed to the strong interaction among Nb, Fe and Ce oxides. The strong interaction not only increases the BET surface area and redox ability of the catalyst, but also significantly improves the acid amount leading to the enhancement of the adsorption and activation of NH 3 , which is advantage of the reactivity of adsorbed nitrate together with the adsorbed NH 3 species.