Low-Temperature SCR Catalyst Copper Iron Molecular Sieve

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional SCR catalysts, particularly those using vanadium and precious metals, are ineffective at low exhaust temperatures and pose environmental and health risks, while existing zeolite-based catalysts lack durability and sulfur resistance.

Innovation Solution

A low-temperature SCR catalyst using copper and iron as active components, supported by a molecular sieve with a dendrimer-like pore structure, employing an equal-volume impregnation method for uniform distribution and calcination to achieve high catalytic activity and durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If conventional vanadium-titanium-tungsten type SCR catalyst is used, then the catalyst can operate at high temperatures (280°C-400°C), but it cannot achieve effective NOx purification at low temperatures (below 200°C)

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperating temperature rangeVSAvoidNOx purification effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the chemical composition parameters of the catalyst by replacing vanadium with copper and iron, and by controlling the Cu2+/Fe3+ ratio between 0.5-2.0. This compositional parameter change enables the catalyst to achieve high NOx conversion efficiency at low temperatures (below 200°C) while maintaining stability, directly resolving the temperature-range limitation of conventional catalysts

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite catalyst material by combining copper and iron compounds on a molecular sieve carrier, forming a multi-component system with synergistic effects. This composite structure enables the catalyst to maintain high activity across a broader temperature range, particularly enhancing low-temperature performance while preserving high-temperature stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If precious metals and vanadium are used in SCR catalyst, then the catalytic activity can be improved, but the production cost increases and environmental pollution and health damage worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecatalytic activityVSAvoidenvironmental pollution and health damage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive and harmful precious metals and vanadium with abundant, non-toxic copper and iron compounds. This substitution uses inexpensive, environmentally benign materials that maintain effective catalytic activity, thereby eliminating the harmful effects and high costs associated with traditional catalyst compositions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #27Cheap short-living objects (Disposable)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transforms the previously harmful role of vanadium (toxic, polluting, expensive) into a beneficial alternative system using copper and iron. These alternative metals provide the necessary catalytic function while being environmentally friendly and cost-effective, converting the harm of toxic materials into the benefit of green chemistry

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

3Manufacturing precision

If equal-volume impregnation method is used for catalyst preparation, then the metal components can be uniformly distributed in the molecular sieve, but the preparation process complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuniform distribution of metal componentsVSAvoidpreparation process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies equal-volume impregnation in multiple sequential steps rather than attempting to load all metals in a single step. This partial, staged approach ensures uniform distribution of copper and iron components throughout the molecular sieve structure while keeping each individual impregnation step simple and controllable

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Temperature

If existing zeolite-based catalysts are used, then low-temperature activity can be improved, but the durability and sulfur resistance deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelow-temperature activityVSAvoiddurability and sulfur resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the Cu2+/Fe3+ ratio parameter between 0.5-2.0 to achieve the right balance between low-temperature activity and durability. This precise parameter control ensures that the catalyst maintains high conversion efficiency at low temperatures while simultaneously achieving excellent sulfur resistance and long-term stability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a composite catalyst system combining copper and iron on a molecular sieve carrier, where the synergistic interaction between these two metals enhances both low-temperature activity and durability. This composite structure provides resistance to sulfur poisoning and maintains stability under various operating conditions, resolving the trade-off between activity and durability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The catalyst significantly reduces NOx ignition temperature to 150°C, maintains high activity under low-temperature conditions, and exhibits excellent sulfur resistance and durability, meeting stringent urban emission standards without using precious metals.

Implementation Method 1

ammonia produced by urea hydrolysis or pyrolysis is taken as a reductant to selectively reduce NOx at catalyst surface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCatalysis: Catalysis

Implementation Method 2

The SCR catalyst uses a molecular sieve as a carrier

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdsorption: Adsorption

Implementation Method 3

conducting equal-volume impregnation for the first time: detecting a specific pore volume of the material dried in Step 1, adding a molecular sieve powder of Step 1 into a reaction kettle

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectImpregnation: Absorption (physical)

Implementation Method 4

calcination steps between the impregantion steps

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal decomposition: Pyrolysis

Data Source

PatentEP2965812B1Low-temperature SCR catalyst for denitrating diesel vehicle exhaust, and preparation method thereof
Publication Date: 2021.10.27 SINOCAT ENVIRONMENTAL TECH CO LTD
  • EP2965812B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2965812B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

Provided are a low-temperature SCR catalyst for denitrating diesel vehicle exhaust, and preparation method thereof. The catalyst uses a molecular sieve as a carrier, and uses metallic elements such as copper and iron as active components. The catalyst preparation method comprises: preprocessing the molecular sieve; conducting multiple equal-volume impreparations; after impreparation, drying to dehydrate, and calcining; and finally pulping and coating to prepare the catalyst. The catalyst employs base metals such as copper and iron instead of precious metals as active components, thus reducing costs, being harmless to humans, and being environmentally friendly. The preparation method of the catalyst is simple and feasible with low requirements for raw materials, employs a repeated but small-quantity method of equalvolume impregnation; and enables active ions to be dispersed more uniformly as compared with the existing conventional preparation methods, thus improving utilization and improving low-temperature catalytic activity and durability.