Spherical MCM-41 with various copper and iron loadings was prepared by surfactant directed co-condensation method. The obtained samples were characterized with respect to their structure (X-ray diffraction, XRD), texture (N2 sorption), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), chemical composition (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, ICP-OES), surface acidity (temperature programmed desorption of ammonia, NH3-TPD), form, and aggregation of iron and copper species (diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, UV-Vis DRS) as well as their reducibility (temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen, H2-TPR). The spherical MCM-41 samples modified with transition metals were tested as catalysts of selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (NH3-SCR). Copper containing catalysts presented high catalytic activity at low-temperature NH3-SCR with a very high selectivity to nitrogen, which is desired reaction products. Similar results were obtained for iron containing catalysts, however in this case the loadings and forms of iron incorporated into silica samples very strongly influenced catalytic performance of the studied samples. The efficiency of the NH3-SCR process at higher temperatures was significantly limited by the side reaction of direct ammonia oxidation. The reactivity of ammonia molecules chemisorbed on the catalysts surface in NO reduction (NH3-SCR) and their selective oxidation (NH3-SCO) was verified by temperature-programmed surface reactions.
Keywords: NH3-SCO; NH3-SCR; copper; iron; spherical MCM-41.