SELECTIVE REDUCTION OF NITRIC-OXIDE WITH ETHANOL OVER AN ALUMINA-SUPPORTED SILVER CATALYST

Nitric oxide was effectively reduced by ethanol over an alumina-suppor ted silver catalyst in the presence of excess oxygen and water vapor. In this reduction, though NO was mainly converted to N-2, there was al so a substantial amount of nitrogen-containing by-products such as N2O , NH3, CH3CN, HCN. There was also a very small amount of by-products - HNCO and NH4OCN (and/or urea, an isomer). The effects of silver conte nt of the catalysts, water vapor, space velocity, and ethanol concentr ation on the reduction of NO were studied. The mechanism for the forma tion of nitrogen-containing compounds was also examined on the basis o f the reactions of model compounds and the analyses of the products.