Understanding the synergistic catalytic effect between La(2)O(3) and CaO for the CH(4) lean De-NO(x) reaction: kinetic and mechanistic studies.

Doping of La(2)O(3) crystallites with Ca(2+) ions significantly enhances the intrinsic rate of NO reduction by CH(4) in the presence of 5% O(2) at 550 degrees C compared to pure La(2)O(3) and CaO solids, while the opposite is true after doping of CaO with La(3+) ions. It was found that the 5 wt % La(2)O(3)-95 wt % CaO system has one of the highest intrinsic site reactivities (TOF = 8.5 x 10(-3) s(-1)) reported at 550 degrees C for the NO/CH(4)/O(2) reaction among metal oxide surfaces. The doping process occurred after first dispersing La(2)O(3) and CaO crystallites in deionized water heated to 60 degrees C for 90 min, while the dried material was then ground and heated slowly in air to 800 degrees C and kept at this temperature for 5 h. The doping process had the effect of creating surface oxygen vacant sites (F-type defects) in the oxide lattices the concentration of which is a function of the wt % La(2)O(3) used in the mixed oxide system as revealed by photoluminescence and O(2) chemisorption studies. According to DRIFTS (15)NO transient isotopic experiments (SSITKA), oxygen vacant sites in Ca(2+)-doped La(2)O(3) promote the formation of a more active chemisorbed NO(x) species (NO(2)(-)) that contributes to the enhancement of reaction rate as compared to pure lanthana, calcium oxide, and La(3+)-doped CaO. These results were supported by the kinetic orders of the reaction with respect to NO and O(2) obtained as a function of wt % La(2)O(3) content in the mixed oxide system. Carbon dioxide (a reaction product) competes for the same oxygen vacant sites to form stable adsorbed carbonate-like species, thus lowering the reduction rate of NO. The dependence of the reaction TOF on the wt % La(2)O(3) loading at 550 degrees C was found to follow the trend of the dependence of photoluminescence intensity on the wt % La(2)O(3) content in the La(2)O(3)-CaO oxide system.