Fe-modified Cu/TiO2 catalyst with anti-Pb poisoning performance for the synergistic catalysis of NH3-SCR and CO oxidation

Nitrogen oxides (NO_x) and carbon monoxide (CO) are two major pollutants in industrial flue gas. Currently, ammonia selective catalytic reduction (NH₃-SCR) and CO oxidation catalysts are susceptible to heavy metal impurities such as Pb, which leads to a reduction in catalytic activities. In this study, an excellent anti-Pb poisoning Fe-enhanced Cu/TiO₂ catalyst was prepared for the synergistic control of NO and CO with maximum 91.2 % and 99 % conversion ratios at 275 °C. The active components of the modified catalyst were well dispersed on the TiO₂. The doping of Fe alleviated the surface aggregation caused by Pb, while the pore size was decreased and the specific surface area was increased. Synergistic interaction between Cu and Fe produced more variable valence states, leading to highly active chemisorbed oxygen and oxygen vacancies, which were beneficial for the NO and CO removal. Furthermore, after Fe loading more acidic sites were retained on the catalyst surface, which improved the oxidation–reduction characteristics of the catalyst. This research presents a viable approach for designing efficient catalyst for the concurrent removal of NO and CO from industrial emissions while demonstrating great resistance to Pb-poisoning.