Selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia over copper-cerium composite catalyst

This work considers the oxidation of ammonia (NH3) by selective catalytic oxidation (SCO) over a copper (Cu)-cerium (Ce) composite catalyst at temperatures between 150 and 400 degrees C. A Cu-Ce composite catalyst was prepared by coprecipitation of copper nitrate and cerium nitrate at various molar concentrations. This study also considers how the concentration of influent NH3 (500-1000 ppm), the space velocity (72,000-110,000 hr(-1)), the relative humidity (12-18%) and the concentration of oxygen (4-20%) affect the operational stability and the capacity for removing NH3. The effects of the O2 and NH3 content of the carrier gas on the catalyst's reaction rate also are considered. The experimental results show that the extent of conversion of NH3 by SCO in the presence of the Cu-Ce composite catalyst was a function of the molar ratio. The NH3 was removed by oxidation in the absence of Cu-Ce composite catalyst, and approximately 99.2% NH3 reduction was achieved during catalytic oxidation over the Cu-Ce (6:4, molar/molar) catalyst at 400 degrees C with an O2 content of 4%. Moreover, the effect of the initial concentration and reaction temperature on the removal of NH3 in the gaseous phase was also monitored at a gas hourly space velocity of less than 92,000 hr(-1).