Photocatalytic conversion of NOx on AgCl/Al2O3 catalyst

The rate of NO conversion under UV illumination was evaluated over Ag/Al₂O₃ and AgCl/Al₂O₃ catalysts at room temperature. The AgCl/Al₂O₃ catalyst is highly active for the conversion of NO_x. The conversion is enhanced in the presence of O₂ and further enhanced when oxygen coexists with hydrocarbons. Diffuse reflectance spectra of AgCl/Al₂O₃ and Ag/Al₂O₃ show an absorption band at 250 nm, and a weak and broad band at 230 nm, respectively. The high photocatalytic NO_x conversion is achieved over the AgCl/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The conversion level of NO_x is maintained above 60% over 5 h in the presence of O₂ and hydrocarbons under UV-irradiation. The absorption band at 250 nm is ascribed to the band gap energy of crystallized AgCl particles on Al₂O₃. These results suggest that high photocatalytic NO_x conversion proceeds on crystallized AgCl particles formed on Al₂O₃.