“No-Noble-Metal” Catalytic trap to remove Hydrocarbons, NOx and CO emissions from combustion engines

Summary of the technology

Basically, the catalytic trap bed is composed of a zeolite with a Si/Al ratio between 10 and 20. The zeolite is partially interchanged with cations of one or several non-noble metals. In order to achieve an optimum performance of the catalytic trap, these metals should be interchanged in the internal zeolite structure, and never on its external surface. In this way, the outflow of the exhaust gases passes through the catalytic trap bed to adsorb the HC at low temperatures.

The material has been developed at laboratory scale. Different compositions of this material have been tested with simulated streams of internal combustion engines (cold starts). As a result, the material is able to reduce HC emissions in internal combustion engines operating with both mixtures almost stoichiometric and low fuel mixtures.

The main difference between this invention and other existing materials is that this catalytic trap avoids any element or additional layer composed of an oxidation catalyst based on noble metals. Consequently, HC emissions could be totally removed through a single bed without using high-cost materials (noble metals) or further stream treatments. This fact allows the catalytic trap to be placed in any position according to the different control systems employed for decreasing other pollutant emissions existing in the gases stream, since the total elimination of HC takes place on the catalytic trap.

Thus, this technology development results in a solid material where coexists metal(s) and protons in an optimum ratio inside of the zeolite channels, leading to a system that can act as a HC trap and as an oxidation catalyst in only a single bed, during the whole cold start cycle.

The main innovative aspect of this catalytic trap is that the adsorbent material can capture the hydrocarbons in the cold start of the engine and oxidize gases during its warmed-up operating conditions without using noble metals, which are frequently used as oxidation catalyst.
At high temperatures, this material is able to carry out total oxidation of both hydrocarbons retained by the catalytic trap and those present in the exhaust gas stream. Consequently, the resulting gas stream released to the atmosphere is innocuous in hydrocarbons.

• Noble metals are not used.

• Structural advantages, since the control systems are simplified and pollutants in internal combustion engines are reduced.

• Economic benefits (The price of noble metal is approximately 100 times more expensive than the materials employed by the researchers).

• The catalytic trap can be placed in any position with regard to different control systems.

• Besides its hydrocarbon trapping role, the system can also act as oxidation catalyst during the cold-start cycle.

Description of the technology

The research group has developed a catalytic trap based on an adsorbent material to decrease HC emissions in exhaust gases of internal combustion engines, and specially, to minimize the emissions of these compounds during an engine cold start. This system is free of noble metals and includes one or several layers of a molecular sieve containing one or several transition metals (Cu, Fe, Zn, Co or Ni).

Specifications

Main advantages of its use

  • At high temperatures, this material is able to carry out total oxidation of both hydrocarbons retained by the catalytic trap and those present in the exhaust gas stream. Consequently, the resulting gas stream released to the atmosphere is innocuous in hydrocarbons.
  • Besides its hydrocarbon trapping role, the system can also act as oxidation catalyst during the cold-start cycle.
  • Economic benefits (The price of noble metal is approximately 100 times more expensive than the materials employed by the researchers).
  • Noble metals are not used.
  • Structural advantages, since the control systems are simplified and pollutants in internal combustion engines are reduced.
  • The catalytic trap can be placed in any position with regard to different control systems.

Applications

  • Application sectors for these materials are those related to hydrocarbons emissions, mainly. In this case, mechanical sector and automotive industries are the most immediate, since the internal combustion engines generate these hydrocarbon emission in cold.
  • Other potential domain of application are:• Power and electricity generation. • Industrial (Chemical industries, ceramics, polymers, paints, etc.)• Chemistry and materials (Materials and catalysts producers)

Related Keywords

  • Combined heat and power (CHP) engines
  • Fuels and engine technologies
  • Generators, electric engines and power converters
  • Electrical Engineering and Technology / Electrical Equipment
  • Industrial manufacturing, Material and Transport Technologies
  • Process Plant Engineering
  • Oil, gas and coal
  • Catalyst
  • catalysis
  • combustion
  • NOX
  • HC
  • CO
  • gas
  • stream
  • zeolite

About Universidad de Alicante

Ahead of the current Coronavirus outbreak, Innoget is fully committed to contributing to mobilizing scientific and expert communities to find a real solution to the Covid-19 pandemic. Therefore, we're supporting worldwide calls and programs that could help in any aspects of the coronavirus crisis.

Is your organization promoting or looking for innovation or research initiatives to mitigate the Covid-19 outbreak? Email us at covid19@innoget.com to list them.

Channeled through Innoget's online open innovation network, initiatives in the health, virology, medicine, or novel technologies applied to human health, among others, are listed and disseminated to Innoget members -ranging from hospitals, research institutes, scientists, businesses, and public administrations- and innovation partners worldwide.

Universidad de Alicante

Never miss an update from Universidad de Alicante

Create your free account to connect with Universidad de Alicante and thousands of other innovative organizations and professionals worldwide

Universidad de Alicante

Send a request for information
to Universidad de Alicante

About Technology Offers

Technology Offers on Innoget are directly posted
and managed by its members as well as evaluation of requests for information. Innoget is the trusted open innovation and science network aimed at directly connect industry needs with professionals online.

Help

Need help requesting additional information or have questions regarding this Technology Offer?
Contact Innoget support