Evaluation of Co/SSZ-13 Zeolite Catalysts Prepared by Solid-Phase Reaction for NO-SCR by Methane

Co/SSZ-13 zeolites were prepared by heating the finely dispersed mixture of NH₄-SSZ-13 and different cobalt salts up to 550 °C. Investigations by thermogravimetry – differential scanning calorimetry – mass spectrometry provided new insight into details of the solid-state reaction. Formation of Co carrying hydrate melt or volatile species was shown to proceed from chloride, nitrate, or acetylacetonate Co precursor salts upon thermal treatment. This phase change allows the transport of the Co species into the zeolite pores. The reaction of the NH₄⁺ or H⁺ zeolite cations and the mobile Co precursors generates vapor or gas products, readily leaving the zeolite pores, and cobalt ions in lattice positions suggesting that solid-state ion-exchange is the prevailing process. The obtained catalysts are of good activity and N₂ selectivity in the CH₄/NO-SCR reaction. The thermal treatment of acetate or formate salts give solid intermediates that are unable to get in contact and react with the cations in the zeolite micropores. These catalysts contain mainly Co-oxide clusters located on the outer surface of the zeolite crystallites and have poor catalytic performance.