Abstract
Copper-exchanged zeolites are well-known catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides
by ammonia (NH3-SCR). To determine the influence of framework stability on catalyst deactivation,
two zeolite frameworks, MFI and IMF, were used in this study. The two frameworks have similar window
size and connectivities, but the IMF structure is less susceptible towards dealumination. In each zeolite,
copper was introduced by aqueous exchange and the catalytic performance in the NH3-SCR reaction compared
before and after hydrothermal ageing at 650 and 750 C. The changes in state and local environment
of Cu and the degradation of the zeolite structure were characterized using ammonia capacity
measurements, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance, X-ray fine structure spectroscopy, temperature
programmed reduction with hydrogen, infrared spectroscopy monitoring of adsorbed NO and CO probe
molecules as well as the combination of transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray
spectroscopy to follow copper migration. The catalytic performance of Cu-ZSM-5 and Cu-IM-5 is similar
in the fresh state, but after hydrothermal ageing the deactivation of Cu-IM-5 is less severe compared to
Cu-ZSM-5 as a consequence of the higher framework stability. The changes in catalyst structure that
occur during ageing are (i) partial dealumination of the zeolite, (ii) reversible migration of copper species,
and (iii) irreversible formation of catalytically inactive and stable CuAl clusters, which have some
resemblance to CuAl2O4, but without the symmetry of Cu in the spinel structure. As the CuAl clusters
only form once Al is detached from the framework, the stability of Al in the zeolite framework is proposed
to dictate the overall hydrothermal deactivation behaviour of Cu-ZSM-5 and Cu-IM-5 in the NH3-SCR
reaction.
