Fundamental study of NOx control in catalytic combustion. Annual report, January-December 1992

A series of La1-XSrXCoO3 perovskite catalysts have been used to study the catalytic combustion of methane and the formation/destruction of NOX. Addition of Sr to LaCoO3 increased the catalytic activity for methane combustion and NOX reduction. While the methane combustion activity exhibited an optimum with the Sr content in the catalyst, the NOX reduction activity increased linearly with the Sr amount. Catalyst characterization using TPR, TPOE, and SSITKA showed an increase in oxygen exchange and oxygen mobility with the Sr content. The results suggest that the NOX destruction activity is related to the catalyst oxygen mobility. Under catalytic combustion conditions, emissions of NOX are less than 3 ppm at temperatures up to 1100 deg C.