Effect of Impregnation and Activation Conditions of Al2O3/CuO Supported Monolith Catalysts in the Reduction of NO

Reduction of NO in the presence of CO and Ar was examined on two series of monolithic sheets carrying an active CuO/Al 2 O 3 layer. In the impregnation procedure the ratio of Al 2 O 3 to CuO was varied in a wide range. The texture of the layer and the dispersion of CuO therein was controlled by mercury porosimetry, scanning electron microscopy and secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). It could be established that the surface concentration of CuO determined by SIMS measurements is the most decisive quantity of the catalyst correlating linearly with the conversion of NO.