Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating the atmosphere to lower the concentration of pollutants therein in which ambient air is passed into operative contact with a stationary substrate having at least one ambient air contacting surface having a pollutant treating material thereon.

Abstract: Method for treating atmospheric pollutants by contacting the atmosphere with a catalyst composition or adsorptive material coated on the surface of a substrate in which the catalyst composition or adsorptive material is protected from degradation by harmful contaminants contained in the atmosphere by a coating of at least one porous protective material and a device useful therefor.

Abstract: A composition for abatement of airborne pollution by volatile organic compounds (“VOCs”) has an upstream composition which contains a protective adsorbent, e.g., Y zeolite, which is effective for adsorbing large VOC molecules, e.g., toluene, and a protective oxidation catalyst intimately intermingled therewith. The downstream composition contains a second adsorbent, e.g., a silver-containing ZSM-5, which is effective for adsorbing relatively smaller VOC molecules, e.g., propylene, and a second oxidation catalyst intimately intermingled therewith. Oxidation of VOCs while they are still retained on the adsorbents is promoted at temperatures lower than would be required if the VOCs were desorbed into the gaseous phase. Apparatus is provided including a first contact member (24) coated with the upstream composition and positioned upstream of a second contact member (32) coated with the downstream composition.

Abstract: A stable, close-coupled catalyst, an article comprising the close-coupled catalyst and a related method of operation. The close-coupled catalyst comprises a catalyst support and a palladium catalytic component. Preferably and optionally, there are stabilizers including alkaline metal oxide, and rare earth metal components selected from the neodymium and lanthanum components. The close-coupled catalyst composition includes substantially no additional oxygen storage component such as praseodymium or cerium compounds. There is preferably a catalyst such as a three-way catalyst downstream of the close-coupled catalyst. The downstream catalyst preferably includes an oxygen storage component such as cerium oxide or praseodymium oxide.

Abstract: A method for improving the adhesion properties of catalytic and adsorptive compositions to metal surfaces is disclosed.

Abstract: A stable, close-coupled catalyst, an article comprising the close-coupled catalyst and a related method of operation. The close-coupled catalyst comprises a catalyst support and a palladium catalytic component. Preferably and optionally, there are stabilizers including alkaline metal oxide, and rare earth metal components selected from the neodymium and lanthanum components. The close-coupled catalyst composition includes substantially no additional oxygen storage component such as praseodymium or cerium compounds. There is preferably a catalyst such as a three-way catalyst downstream of the close-coupled catalyst. The downstream catalyst preferably includes an oxygen storage component such as cerium oxide or praseodymium oxide.

Abstract: A pre-vaporized fuel system for use in fueling an internal combustion engine is provided with a dynamic infrared sensor. The infrared sensor senses the hydrocarbon content of the vaporized fuel which information is used by the engine control module to control engine fueling to minimize emissions. The infrared source is operated to maintain the pre-vaporized fuel below its lower explosive limit and the thermopile detector electronics is synchronized with the light pulse frequency to develop fast signal responses suitable for fueling control.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for treating the atmosphere to lower the concentration of pollutants therein in which ambient air is passed into operative contact with a stationary substrate having at least one ambient air contacting surface having a pollutant treating material thereon.

Abstract: An assembly, a method and a motor vehicle for cleaning ambient air in the vicinity of an internal combustion engine (102) having combustion air inlet means (103) and energy emitting means (104)are disclosed. The assembly (101) further includes adsorbent means (105) for adsorbing at least one pollutant when in a first mode of operation and for desorbing the pollutant when in a second mode of operation. The adsorbent means have an inlet (106) for polluted ambient air (107, 107′) and an outlet (108) for cleaned ambient air (109, 109′). Furthermore, the assembly (101) includes a pollutant conduit (110) through which the desorbed pollutant is transferred from the adsorbent means (105) to the combustion air inlet means (103) when in the second mode of operation, and the adsorbent means (105) are arranged for being brought into the second mode of operation by means of energy supplied from the energy emitting means (104).

Abstract: Method for treating atmospheric pollutants by contacting the atmosphere with a catalyst composition or adsorptive material coated on the surface of a substrate in which the catalyst composition or adsorptive material is protected from degradation by harmful contaminants contained in the atmosphere by a coating of at least one porous protective material and a device useful therefor.

Abstract: A catalytic composition and method of making the same in which a catalytic material has an average pore size distribution sufficiently large to substantially prevent capillary condensation.

Abstract: A stable, close-coupled catalyst, an article comprising the close-coupled catalyst and a related method of operation. The close-coupled catalyst comprises a catalyst support and a palladium catalytic component. Preferably and optionally, there are stabilizers including alkaline metal oxide, and rare earth metal components selected from the neodymium and lanthanum components. The close-coupled catalyst composition includes substantially no additional oxygen storage component such as praseodymium or cerium compounds. There is preferably a catalyst such as a three-way catalyst downstream of the close-coupled catalyst. The downstream catalyst preferably includes an oxygen storage component such as cerium oxide or praseodymium oxide.

Abstract: A method and apparatus converts time-resolved sensor signals into transfer functions and/or cumulative transfer function signals which can be attained by computation means such as by using Fast Fourier Transforms. A signal, as a means to assess catalyst performance such as a signal based on sensing oxygen concentration or air to fuel ratio or hydrocarbon concentration in motor vehicle exhaust in accordance with the present invention is in the time domain and has multiple components at different frequencies. The use of Fast Fourier Transforms isolates the various spectral densities which arise from different frequency components of the complex time domain signal. Cross spectral density function and power spectral density function are used to determine the transfer function. The analysis has been found to be substantially independent of operating conditions. The transfer function and cumulative transfer function have been found to be a precise indication of the catalyst performance.

Abstract: Oxidation catalyst compositions-include a catalytic material containing ceria-and alumina each having a surface area of at least about 10 m.sup.2 /g, for example, ceria and activated alumina in a weight ratio of from about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5. Optionally, platinum may be included in the catalytic material in amounts which are sufficient to promote gas phase oxidation of CO and HC but which are limited to preclude excessive oxidation of SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3. Alternatively, palladium in any desired amount may be included in the catalytic material. The catalyst compositions have utility as oxidation catalysts for pollution abatement of exhausts contianing unburned fuel or oil. For example, the catalyst compositions may be used in a method to treat diesel engine exhaust by contacting the hot exhaust with the catalyst composition to promote the oxidation of the volatile organic fraction component of particulates in the exhaust.

Abstract: Oxidation catalyst compositions include a catalytic material containing ceria and alumina each having a surface area of at least about 10 m.sup.2 /g, for example, ceria and activated alumina in a weight ratio of from about 1.5:1 to 1:1.5. Optionally, platinum may be included in the catalytic material in amounts which are sufficient to promote gas phase oxidation of CO and HC but which are limited to preclude excessive oxidation of SO.sub.2 to SO.sub.3. Alternatively, palladium in any desired amount may be included in the catalytic material. The catalyst compositions have utility as oxidation catalysts for pollution abatement of exhausts contianing unburned fuel or oil. For example, the catalyst compositions may be used in a method to treat diesel engine exhaust by contacting the hot exhaust with the catalyst composition to promote the oxidation of the volatile organic fraction component of particulates in the exhaust.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for carrying out partial oxidation of hydrocarbon feeds to produce hydrogen rich gases suitable for steam reforming, utilizes a monolithic platinum and palladium containing catalyst. The process comprises introducing an oxygen containing oxidant gas (e.g., air), steam and a hydrocarbon feed into a catalytic partial oxidation apparatus comprising an adiabatic reaction vessel. The oxidation catalyst preferably comprises platinum, palladium and optionally rhodium distended upon a stabilized alumina washcoat. At least one half by weight of the hydrocarbon feed is catalytically oxidized in the monolith at a high throughput rate to produce an effluent suitable for further processing, such as steam reforming.

Abstract: Improved recovery of platinum lost from the catalyst gauze in a nitric acid plant is obtained by using palladium containing recovery gauzes configured to enhance the mass transfer characteristics of the system.

Abstract: A process for generating electricity from a fuel cell includes generating a hydrogen-rich gas as the fuel for the fuel cell by treating a hydrocarbon feed, which may be a normally liquid feed, in an autothermal reformer utilizing a first monolithic catalyst zone having palladium and platinum catalytic components therein and a second, platinum group metal steam reforming catalyst. Air is used as the oxidant in the hydrocarbon reforming zone and a low oxygen to carbon ratio is maintained to control the amount of dilution of the hydrogen-rich gas with nitrogen of the air without sustaining an insupportable amount of carbon deposition on the catalyst. Anode vent gas may be utilized as the fuel to preheat the inlet stream to the reformer. The fuel cell and the reformer are preferably operated at elevated pressures, up to about a pressure of 150 psia for the fuel cell.

Abstract: A system for the control of the air-fuel ratio in an internal combustion engine incorporates an electronic control unit, a sensor of exhaust emissions and a valve for metering fuel with air to control the air-fuel ratio. The electronic control unit provides for the comparison of successive measurements of the sensor output voltage under conditions wherein the fuel valve is being operated for ever increasing richness or leaness until such time as the differential measurement drops below a predetermined amount. An offset voltage is then subtracted from or added to this voltage to calculate an operating set point voltage. Thereby, the system's accuracy is maintained through the compensation for changed sensor characteristics with aging.

Abstract: Improved recovery of platinum lost from the catalyst gauze in a nitric acid plant is obtained by using palladium containing recovery gauzes configured to enhance the mass transfer characteristics of the system.