The role of doped Fe on the activity of alumina-supported Pt and Pd diesel exhaust catalysts

Supported Pt and Pd are most commonly used for oxidation catalysts. They have similar and different characteristics for deactivation factors. The catalytic activity of Pt and Pd catalysts supported on ??-Al₂O₃ was studied in the presence and absence of H₂O and SO₂ during CO oxidation under simulated conditions of diesel exhaust gas. Without the addition of H₂O and SO₂ to the feed gas, Pd/Al₂O₃ had a superior catalytic activity compared to Pt/Al₂O₃. The addition of H₂O to the feed gas strongly and negligibly affected the activity of Pd and Pt, respectively, while the addition of SO₂ to the feed gas had a strong poisoning effect on the catalytic activity of both Pt and Pd catalysts. Although being the most active, Pd catalysts exhibited a strong sensitivity to water and sulfur-containing compounds. Fe was added to the Pt and Pd catalysts to introduce sulfur resistance. The addition of Fe enhanced the activity of the catalysts by suppressing the phase transition of Al₂O₃ to Al₂(SO₄)₃ and by hindering metal sintering.