Passive SCR: The effect of H2 to NO ratio on the formation of NH3 over alumina supported platinum and palladium catalysts

We investigate the relationship between the H2:NO ratio and NH3 formation over alumina supported Pt and Pd catalysts. By kinetic studies and in situ infrared spectroscopy, we report that NH3 formation is not only sensitive to the catalyst formulation but equally dependent on the feed gas composition and tem- perature. Specifically, we identify that hydrogen plays an important role in the dissociation of NO at low tem- perature. We also show that the support material itself plays a vital role in the ammonia formation mechanism due to the redox behaviour of NO adsorption at low temperature. This was unexpected as the noble metal is generally considered to be the active phase for the reaction of NO and H2