Abstract: A dual-phase zeolite having a transition metal-containing zeolite phase and a transition metal-containing oxide phase. The catalytic material may be an intimate mixture of a phase-layered structure of a first phase constituted preferably of a copper-containing high silica zeolite and a second phase constituted of copper-containing zirconia.Methods are also disclosed for making a single-stage catalyst for removing NO.sub.x and HC at high efficiency in an oxygen-rich automotive exhaust gas, and for treating the exhaust gas with the dual-phase catalyst above.

Abstract: A three-way catalyst for automotive emission control having a mechanical carrier having a support comprised substantially of alumina, a catalytic compound supported on said carrier having a major constituent of palladium, and a discontinuous phase of titanium oxide on or adjacent substantially each exposed particle of the catalytic compound.A method of making a three-way catalyst for automotive emission control, comprising: impregnating with palladium a mechanical carrier having a support comprised substantially of alumina to produce a composite having 0.05-5.0% palladium; and impregnating the composite with an organo-titanium compound and decomposing such impregnated compound to form a discontinuous titanium oxide phase on or adjacent the exposed portions of said composite.

Abstract: Sacrificial use of amino polymers to modify the crystal structure of platinum derived from chlorine compounds in a method to oxidize hydrocarbons, comprising: (a) preparing a polymer modifier by controllably reacting amine with epoxy resin to form a soluble adduct and adding to the adduct a solvent to form a homogeneous amino polymer solution; (b) coating a granular support material with platinum/chlorine compounds; and (c) mixing the coated support material with the polymer solution and heating the mixture to evaporate the solvent and to decompose and eliminate the polymer, leaving the coated granules with platinum in a morphologically changed condition devoid of amino polymer but having enhanced catalytic effectiveness for promoting oxidation of hydrocarbons. The amine is of a primary or secondary amine, preferably the hydroxyethyl group. The epoxy is a soluble resin comprising two or more epoxide groups per molecule, i.e., dihydric phenol or dihydric alcohol.

Abstract: A three-way catalyst for automotive emission control having a mechanical carrier having a support comprised substantially of alumina, a lanthanum oxide coating decorated onto the support, a catalytic compound discontinuously supported on the decorated support having a major constituent of palladium, and a discontinuous phase of titanium oxide on the alumina, lanthana, and catalytic compound composite.The method of making such three-way catalyst for automotive emission control, comprises coating an alumina support with lanthana, impregnating the coated support with a palladium compound to form a discontinuous phase on the lanthana, and impregnating the coated support and catalytic compound with an organo-titania compound to form a discontinuous phase on the lanthana and palladium compound.

Abstract: A three-way catalyst construction, including its method of making, which deploys palladium and rhodium as precious metal catalysts, and lanthanum oxide and titania as a nonprecious metal catalyst, in a unique combination and in a unique manner. The three-way catalyst construction for automotive emission control, such catalyst being applied to a mechanical carrier having a support comprised substantially of alumina, comprises: (a) a discontinuous lanthanum oxide coating on the support; (b) a catalytic precious metal compound of palladium and rhodium, where rhodium is no greater than 10% by proportion of the palladium with palladium being at least 60% by weight of the precious metal catalyst, said precious metal catalyst being discontinuously supported on the decorated support; and (c) a nonprecious metal catalytic compound of titanium oxide disposed discontinuously on or about said precious metal catalyst compound and lanthana.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for substantially completely catalytically oxidizing alcohol vapor and/or formaldehyde vapor contained in low concentration in a heated carrier gas mixture at low temperatures such as encountered in exhaust gas treatment during the engine warm-up period and having oxygen present in a wide range of lambda values from momentarily rich (0.8) to very lean engine operation (lambda>5). The carrier gas mixture is sequentially exposed (i) to a first catalyst consisting substantially of palladium and of rhodium in a weight ratio of Rh/Pd of 0-0.3, and/or CeO.sub.2 in a weight ratio of CeO.sub.2 Pd of 0-50, and (ii) subsequently immediately to a second catalyst consisting substantially of the base metal silver, whereby the combination of said catalysts synergistically improve the oxidation of said mixture to achieve at least a 96% oxidation conversion of said alcohol vapor and to produce less than 1% of the coverted methanol as aldehydes.Palladium is effective in converting methanol to CO.sub.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of substantially completely catalytically oxidizing methanol vapor and/or formaldehyde vapor contained in low concentration in a heated carrier gas having little or no excess oxygen, such as in the treatment of exhaust gases from methanol-fueled internal combustion engines calibrated for stoichiometric air/fuel mixtures. The process comprises treating said gas mixture by means of a dispersed catalyst consisting of palladium and of (i) rhodium in a weight ratio of Rh/Pd of 0-0.3, and/or (ii) CeO.sub.2 in a weight ratio of CeO.sub.2 /Pd of 0-50, the treatment converting at least 96% of the methanol to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O and with less than 1% of converted methanol as aldehydes, and converting at lest 85% of the formaldehyde in said exhaust gas to CO.sub.2 and H.sub.2 O.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method for treatment of exhaust gases which if left untreated can generate, upon full oxidation, temperatures in a range of from about 1600.degree. F. to about 2700.degree. F. over an oxidizing catalyst. The method has the following steps. An internal combustion engine (10) is operated under conditions in which there is insufficient oxygen to oxide all the hydrocarbon present in the fuel. The exhaust gases so-developed are passed into an exhaust manifold (12) and then through an exhaust pipe (14) to an oxidation catalyst (16) whose primary oxidation catalyst is palladium. An air pump (20) generates a supply of oxygen which can supply up to about 80% of the oxygen required to combust fully all of the hydrocarbons and carbon monoxide contained in the exhaust gases when the internal combustion engine is operating in a wide-open throttle condition.

Abstract: A catalyst construction and method of making is disclosed for treating automotive exhaust gases from a fossil fueled internal combustion engine. The construction comprises: (a) a substrate; (b) a coating on said substrate having comingled first and second phases, said first phase comprising ceria and precious metal in microscale intimacy and said second phase comprising precious metal substantially devoid of ceria and separated from the ceria in said first phase on a macroscale. The phases may be in particle form with (i) the first phase particles resulting from the codeposition of CeO.sub.2, precious metal, and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 from an aqueous solution containing dissolved salts of CeO.sub.2 and precious metal and suspended particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; and (ii) the second phase particles resulting from the codeposition of precious metal and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 from an aqueous solution containing a dissolved salt of the precious metal and suspended particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: A catalyst construction and method of making is disclosed for treating automotive exhaust gases from a fossil fueled internal combustion engine. The construction comprises: (a) a substrate; (b) a coating on said substrate having comingled first and second phases, said first phase comprising ceria and precious metal in microscale intimacy and said second phase comprising precious metal substantially devoid of ceria and separated from the ceria in said first phase on a macroscale. The phases may be in particle form with (i) the first phase particles resulting from the codeposition of CeO.sub.2, precious metal, and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 from an aqueous solution containing dissolved salts of CeO.sub.2 and precious metal and suspended particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 ; and (ii) the second phase particles resulting from the codeposition of precious metal and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 from an aqueous solution containing a dissolved salt of the precious metal and suspended particles of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of using an exhaust gas catalyst for treatment of exhaust gases developed by burning a hydrocarbon fuel or a fuel containing hydrocarbon and alcohol blends in an internal combustion engine. These exhaust gases contain varying amounts of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen depending upon the operating conditions of an internal combustion engine. This specification teaches a method of using an improved catalyst composition in which a support medium is provided for supporting the catalyst system. This support medium has deposited thereon palladium and finely divided tungsten. Tungsten is present on the support media in a quantity such that tungsten is available to substantially all of the palladium on the support medium.

Abstract: This specification teaches a method of operating an internal combustion engine having combustion chambers on a methanol fuel. In general, the method teaches the steps of heating the fuel to vaporize at least a portion thereof, thereafter heating at least a portion of the vaporized fuel to a decomposition temperature. At least a portion of the vaporized methanol fuel at the decomposition temperature is passed over a catalyst selected from the group consisting essentially of a palladium catalyst, a platinum/palladium catalyst, and a platinum/rhodium catalyst, thereby to decompose at least a part of the vaporized methanol fuel into hydrogen and carbon monoxide. The vaporized methanol fuel, along with the hydrogen and carbon monoxide, are injected into the combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine along with oxygen and, if desired, additional methanol fuel to be burned in the combustion chambers.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of using an exhaust gas catalyst for treatment of exhaust gases developed by burning a hydrocarbon based fuel in an internal combustion engine. These exhaust gases contain varying amounts of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen depending upon the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. This specification teaches use of an improved catalyst composition in which a support medium is provided for supporting the catalyst system, the support medium having an upstream support portion and a downstream support portion over which the exhaust gases pass in succession. The upstream support portion of the support medium has palladium deposited thereon and the downstream support portion of the support medium has tungsten deposited thereon. The catalyst system has particular utility as a three-way catalyst operating at approximately stoichiometric conditions or as a catalyst for use in conjunction with the fast burn engines or as an oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of using an exhaust gas catalyst for treatment of exhaust gases developed by burning a hydrocarbon based fuel in an internal combustion engine. These exhaust gases contain varying amounts of unburned hydrocarbons, carbon monoxide and oxides of nitrogen depending upon the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine. This specification teaches the use of an improved catalyst composition in which a support medium is provided for supporting the catalyst system, the support medium having an upstream support portion and a downstream support portion over which the exhaust gases pass in succession. The upstream support portion of the support medium has deposited thereon palladium and the downstream support portion of the support medium has deposited thereon palladium and tungsten. Tungsten is present on the downstream support portion of the support medium in a quantity such that tungsten is available to substantially all of the palladium on that portion of the support medium.

Abstract: This invention is directed to an equilibrium catalyst for treating oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide and unburned hydrocarbons found in an exhaust gas stream from an internal combustion engine. The catalyst includes a substrate, a selective three-way equilibrium catalyst, an oxygen storage material component for maintaining the activity of the equilibrium catalyst during momentary excursions of the exhaust gas stream into oxygen rich conditions, an active metal component for a water gas and steam reforming process which maintains the overall activity of the equilibrium catalyst when treating an exhaust gas stream deficient in oxygen, and a component for oxidation of hydrocarbons and carbon monoxides when the exhaust gas stream is developed from the burning of air mixtures of about stoichiometric proportions.

Abstract: A catalyst system and method of making the same is taught for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. A catalyst system includes a substrate and a washcoat on the substrate. The washcoat is formed of zirconia. A catalyst is placed on the washcoat consisting of rhodium metal or rhodium metal with another catalyst metal. By using zirconia as a washcoat, the rhodium is not dissolved into the washcoat during periods when the catalyst system is subjected to high temperature oxidizing conditions, as is the case when a gamma alumina washcoat is used.

Abstract: A method is taught for increasing the selectivity of a catalyst in that the catalyst reduces the amount of ammonia produced when exhaust gases are catalytically treated to eliminate oxides of nitrogen therefrom. The method involves including molybdenum on the support media for the catalyst, in addition to the principal catalyst system present to effect the reduction of oxides of nitrogen.

Abstract: The specification teaches a method of enriching a catalyst system in which both platinum and rhodium are present. The enrichment increases the amount of rhodium which is actively available for use as a catalyst. The enrichment is brought about by thermally aging the catalyst system in an oxidizing atmosphere by heating it to a temperature in a range from 650.degree. C. to 875.degree. C. for a period of at least two hours. A thermal aging at a temperature of about 800.degree. C. for a period of 4 to 8 hours is preferred.

Abstract: A catalyst system is taught for treating exhaust gases from an internal combustion engine. The catalyst system includes a substrate and a wash coat on the substrate. The wash coat is formed substantially of alpha phase alumina. A catalyst is placed on the wash coat consisting of rhodium metal or rhodium metal with another catalyst metal. By using alpha phase alumina as the wash coat, the rhodium is not dissolved into the wash coat during periods when the catalyst system is subjected to high temperature oxidizing conditions.

Abstract: Under oxidizing conditions, a ruthenium catalyst system which is not protected will lose ruthenium by volatilization. A method is taught in this specification for stabilizing a ruthenium catalyst system against such volatilization under oxidizing conditions. The method is carried out by applying to a catalyst substrate a ruthenium catalyst system in which the catalytic material under oxidizing conditions is of the type La.sup.+3 Ni.sub.x.sup.+3 Ru.sub.1-x.sup.+3 O.sub.3 wherein x is in the range from 0.1 to 0.9.