Simultaneous catalytic removal of NOx, SOx and CO from FCC regenerator

A Cu/Ce/Mg/Al/O (CuCe-cat) mixed oxide catalyst with the ability to simultaneously remove NO_x, SO_x, and CO in FCC regenerator was presented as well as the possible interaction mechanism. Co-existence of cerium and copper in the catalyst enhanced the NO reduction activity and promoted the resistance to H₂O poisoning. Cu-cat and Ce-cat were rapidly poisoned by SO₂. However, the presence of SO₂ in the feed had no adverse effect on the NO conversion over CuCe-cat, which maintained 100% conversion. At 250°C, CuCe-cat and Cu-cat had much higher CO oxidation activity than Ce-Cat. The presence of H₂O increased CO conversion over CuCe-cat while drastically reducing it over Cu-cat or Ce-cat. Under an oxidizing atmosphere similar to that of the dilute phase bed of the FCC regenerator, CuCe-cat displayed excellent performance for SO_x adsorption in SO₂ + O₂ system and could effectively release the adsorbed SO_x in H₂ + Ar atmosphere. The presence of Cu⁺ ions and oxygen vacancies in CuCe-cat, providing extra sites for CO and NO adsorption, was also responsible for its excellent resistance to SO₂ poisoning. This is an abstract of a paper presented at the 223rd ACS National Meeting (Orlando, FL 4/7-11/2002).