Silicon carbon-supported copper oxide catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with NH₃ at low temperature

Silicon carbide supported copper oxide (CuO/SiC) catalysts were prepared by wet impregnation method and characterized by scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); their catalytic performance in the selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with NH₃ at low temperature was investigated with a mimic flue gas. The results indicate that the catalytic performance of CuO/SiC in the selective catalytic reduction NO with NH₃ is related to the loading of copper oxide and reaction temperature. The CuO/SiC catalyst with a CuO loading of 5% exhibits high activity at low temperature, where SO₂ shows slightly inhibition upon the NO reduction activity; the NO reduction reaction over CuO/SiC may take place between the adsorbed ammonia and the gaseous or weakly adsorbed NO. Such CuO/SiC catalysts may provide a new choice for the practical removal of NO_x in industry.