Vanadium as a catalyst for NO, N2O and CO2 reaction with activated carbon

The kinetics of the reaction of NO, N2O and CO2 with activated carbon witho ut catalyst and impregnated with a precursor salt of vanadium (ammonium mon ovanadate) was investigated. The conversion of NO, N2O and CO2 was studied (450-900 degrees C) using a TGA apparatus and a fixed bed reactor. The reac tor effluents were analysed using a GC/MS on Line. The addition of vanadium increased carbon reactivity and adsorption at lower temperatures. For NO a nd N2O conversion the main products obtained were N-2, N2O, CO and CO2 but for CO2 conversion only CO was detected. In situ XRD was a useful tool for interpreting catalyst behaviour and identifying phases present during react ion conditions. The catalytic effect of vanadium can be explained by the oc currence of redox processes in which the catalyst is reduced to lower oxida tion states such as V2O5/V6O13. (C)2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights re served.