Copper-Iron Bimetal Ion-Exchanged SAPO-34 for NH3-SCR of NOx

SAPO-34 was prepared with a mixture of three templates containing triethylamine, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, and morpholine, which leads to unique properties for support and production cost reduction. Meanwhile, Cu/SAPO-34, Fe/SAPO-34, and Cu-Fe/SAPO-34 were prepared through the ion-exchanged method in aqueous solution and used for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx with NH3. The physical structure and original crystal of SAPO-34 are maintained in the catalysts. Cu-Fe/SAPO-34 catalysts exhibit high NOx conversion in a broad temperature window, even in the presence of H2O. The physicochemical properties of synthesized samples were further characterized by various methods, including XRD, FE-SEM, EDS, N2 adsorption-desorption isotherms, UV-Vis-DRS spectroscopy, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR, and EPR. The best catalyst, 3Cu-1Fe/SAPO-34 exhibited high NOx conversion (> 90%) in a wide temperature window of 250–600 °C, even in the presence of H2O. In comparison with mono-metallic samples, the 3Cu-1Fe/SAPO-34 catalyst had more isolated Cu2+ ions and additional oligomeric Fe3+ active sites, which mainly contributed to the higher capacity of NH3 and NOx adsorption by the enhancement of the number of acid sites as well as its greater reducibility. Therefore, this synergistic effect between iron and copper in the 3Cu-1Fe/SAPO-34 catalyst prompted higher catalytic performance in more extensive temperature as well as hydrothermal stability after iron incorporation.