Precursor Effect on Mn-Fe-Ce/TiO2 Catalysts for Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO with NH3 at Low Temperatures

Preparation of Mn/TiO2, Mn-Fe/TiO2, and Mn-Fe-Ce/TiO2 by the deposition-precipitation (DP) method can afford very active catalysts for low-temperature NH3-SCR (selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3). The effect of precursor choice (nitrate vs. acetate) of Mn, Fe, and Ce on the physiochemical properties including thermal stability and the resulting SCR activity were investigated. The resulting materials were characterized by N2-Physisorption, XRD (Powder X-ray diffraction), XPS (X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy), H2-TPR (temperature-programmed reduction with hydrogen), and the oxidation of NO to NO2 measured at 300 °C. Among all the prepared catalysts 5MnAce/Ti, 25Mn0.75AceFe0.25Nit/Ti, and 25Mn0.75AceFe0.20NitCe0.05Ace/Ti showed superior SCR activity at low temperature. The superior activity of the latter two materials is likely attributable to the presence of amorphous active metal oxide phases (manganese-, iron- and cerium-oxide) and the ease of the reduction of metal oxides on TiO2. Enhanced ability to convert NO to NO2, which can promote fast-SCR like pathways, could be another reason. Cerium was found to stabilize amorphous manganese oxide phases when exposed to high temperatures.