Commercial SCR catalyst modified with Cu metal to simultaneously efficiently remove NO and toluene in the fuel gas

Developing an environmentally friendly selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst to effectively eliminate both nitric oxides (NO) and toluene has garnered significant attention for regulating emissions from automobiles and the combustion of fossil fuels. This study synthesized a series of novel commercial V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ catalysts modified with Cu through the wet impregnation method, which was employed to simultaneously remove NO and toluene from the fuel gas. The assessment of catalyst removal performance was conducted at a selective catalytic reduction system, and the experimental results showed a significant increase in the catalytic activity due to the modification of the copper metal. The 10% Cu/SCR catalyst showed a superior activity that the NO and toluene conversion reached 100% and 95.56% at 300 °C, respectively. Subsequently, various characterization techniques were employed to investigate the crystal phase, morphology, physical features, chemical states, and surface acidity properties of the synthesis catalysts. According to the characterization results, the presence of Cu metal did not have a noticeable impact on the physical property. However, the redox performance was enhanced, and the number of surface acidic sites was also increased after adding Cu to the SCR catalyst. Furthermore, the redox cycle of Cu metal and V species was facilitated to produce more active oxygen which helped to improve the NO and toluene conversion. This work offered a novel perspective into the synergistic oxidation of both NO and toluene, which was potentially relevant for improving the selective catalytic reduction process in coal-fired power plants.