catalysts.-Complete framework Si isolation can be achieved for Cu-SAPO-18 materials.-Cu-SAPO-18 shows high catalytic activity and hydrothermal stability for SCR of NOx.
KeywordsOne-pot synthesis, silicoaluminophosphate, SAPO-18, selective catalytic reduction (SCR), nitrogen oxides (NOx) 4
1.-IntroductionIn the last decades, small pore zeolites containing large cavities in their structure have become important industrial catalysts for the methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process, and for the field of gas separation.[1] In addition, these materials have recently broadened their applicability as efficient catalysts to control the emission of harmful gases, particularly nitrogen oxides (NOx) mainly produced during the high temperature combustion in diesel engines. [1,2] Indeed, the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx by ammonia or urea has been reported as the most widely applied emission control, [3] and copper-exchanged small pore CHA materials as one of the preferred catalysts (either as silicoaluminate, Cu-SSZ-13, [1,2,4] or as silicoaluminophosphate, Cu-SAPO-34). [2,5] Small pore Cu-CHA shows higher catalytic activities and hydrothermal stabilities for the SCR of NOx than other previously studied zeolites with larger pores (as Cu-Beta or Cu-ZSM-5, among others). [6] This is a very important point because the SCR of NOx reaction is performed in the presence of steam at high temperatures (above 400ºC) and, under these severe conditions, Cu-Beta or Cu-ZSM-5 zeolites suffer from permanent deactivation.[6]Specific stabilization issues by coordination of extra-framework Cu 2+ cations to three oxygen atoms of the double 6-rings (D6R) units present in the CHA structure have been described as the main reason of the improved catalytic activity and hydrothermal stability of the Cu-CHA catalysts.[7]Besides Cu-exchanged CHA, other Cu-exchanged small pore silicoaluminates containing D6R in their structure have been reported as efficient catalyst for the SCR of NOx, as Cu-SSZ-16 [8] and Cu-SSZ-39. [9] Particularly, Cu-SSZ-39, which presents the AEI structure, shows very high catalytic activity and hydrothermal stability for the SCR of NOx, even higher than commercial Cu-SSZ-13 catalyst. [9] Unfortunately, the range of preparation conditions of the silicoaluminate SSZ-39 is very limited, requiring very narrow Si/Al synthesis ratios (~30) and specific chemical sources, as for instance partially dealuminated USY and sodium silicate as Al and Si sources, respectively.[10] Moreover, the relatively low Si/Al ratios of the final SSZ-39 materials (~7-10) compared to the synthesis Si/Al ratios, 5 indicate that the solid yields are low (< 50%wt of initial oxides), [9,10] and this fact precludes possible industrial applications.The AEI structure has also been reported as silicoaluminophosphate form, SAPO-18, [11] which is mainly synthesized using N,N-diisopropylethylamine (DIPEA) as organic structure directing agent (OSDA). [11,12] SAPO-18 has been thoroughly used as catalyst for the MTO reaction, [13] but very few descriptions ca...