SELECTIVE REMOVAL OF COBALT OXIDE FROM COBALT-LOADED ALUMINA CATALYSTS AND ITS EFFECT ON THE ACTIVITY FOR SELECTIVE CATALYTIC REDUCTION OF NITROGEN MONOXIDE BY ETHENE IN EXCESS OXYGEN

The selective removal of Co3O4 from a cobalt-loaded alumina catalyst r esulted in increased activity for the title reaction. indicating that Co3O4 inhibited the reaction but that the residual CoAl2O4-like specie s acted as catalytically active species. CoAl2O4-like species were suf ficiently active for the oxidation of NO to NO2 but much less active f or the oxidation of ethene (a side reaction).