Fe2O3/Al2O3 catalysts for the N2O decomposition in the nitric acid industry

✍ Scribed by Grzegorz Giecko; Tadeusz Borowiecki; Wojciech Gac; Janusz Kruk

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 2008
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 1002 KB
• Volume: 137
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0920-5861
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cattod.2008.02.008

✦ Synopsis

Fe 2 O 3 catalysts supported on Al 2 O 3 were used to remove nitrous oxide from the nitric acid plant simulated process stream (containing O 2 , NO and H 2 O). Catalysts were prepared by the coprecipitation method and were characterized for their physico-chemical properties by BET, XRD, AFM and TPR analysis. A strong influence of the post-preparation heating conditions on the structural and catalytic properties of the catalysts has been evidenced. Laboratory tests revealed 95% conversion of N 2 O at temperature 750 8C and a slight decrease in activity in the presence of H 2 O and NO. The catalysts were inert towards decomposition of NO. The pilot-plant reactor and real plant studies (up to 3300 h time-on-stream) confirmed high activity and very good mechanical stability of the catalysts as well as no decomposition of nitric oxide.