Low-temperature SCR of NOx with NH3 over Nomex™ rejects-based activated carbon fibre composite-supported manganese oxides: Part I. Effect of pre-conditioning of the carbonaceous support

Nomex™ rejects-based activated carbon fibre composites, recently developed at our laboratory, were tested as catalytic supports for the low-temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitric oxide with ammonia. Impregnation of the support was performed by equilibrium adsorption of a diluted aqueous solution of manganese acetate. Prior to impregnation, different pre-conditioning procedures of the carbonaceous support were investigated. These comprised steam activation and oxidation with air and different liquids. The modified supports were characterised by different techniques and the impregnated catalysts were tested for SCR of NO at 150°C. The best catalytic results were achieved after support activation at 20 wt.% (SBET≈1000 m2 g−1) and oxidation with nitric acid at 90°C for 1–2 h.