Promotion effect of urchin-like MnOx@PrOx hollow core–shell structure catalysts for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

Abstract

A MnO_x@PrO_x catalyst with a hollow urchin-like core–shell structure was prepared using a sacrificial templating method and was used for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃. The structural properties of the catalyst were characterized by FE-SEM, TEM, XRD, BET, XPS, H₂-TPR and NH₃-TPD analyses, and the performance of the low-temperature NH₃-SCR was also tested. The results show that the catalyst with a molar ratio of Pr/Mn = 0.3 exhibited the highest NO conversion at nearly 99% at 120 °C and NO conversion greater than 90% over the temperature range of 100–240 °C. Also, the MnO_x@PrO_x catalyst presented desirable SO₂ and H₂O resistance in 100 ppm SO₂ and 10 vol% H₂O at the space velocity of 40 000 h⁻¹ and a testing time of 3 h test at 160 °C. The excellent low-temperature catalytic activity of the catalyst could ultimately be attributed to high concentrations of Mn⁴⁺ and adsorbed oxygen species on the catalyst surface, suitable Lewis acidic surface properties, and good reducing ability. Additionally, the enhanced SO₂ and H₂O resistance of the catalyst was primarily ascribed to its unique core–shell structure which prevented the MnO_x core from being sulfated.