Abstract: This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for conducting simultaneous endothermic and exothermic reactions in a microchannel reactor. A start-up procedure for the microchannel reactor is disclosed.

Abstract: This invention relates to a process and an apparatus for conducting simultaneous endothermic and exothermic reactions in a microchannel reactor. A start-up procedure for the microchannel reactor is disclosed.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a vehicular lean-burn internal combustion engine includes a NOx reduction catalyst, a source reductant, means (20) for contacting the catalyst with the reductant, means for sensing the temperature of the exhaust gas and/or the catalyst bed and means, when in use, for controlling reductant addition. The reductant addition control means supplies an amount of reductant to the catalyst at a rate corresponding to a measured temperature value of the exhaust gas and/or catalyst bed, which temperature value has been pre-determined to correlate, in use, with an amount of NOx in the exhaust gas.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a catalysed ceramic wall-flow filter comprising a plurality of channels comprises reducing the pressure in a pore structure of the channel walls relative to the surrounding atmospheric pressure, contacting a surface of the evacuated channel walls with a liquid containing at least one catalyst component or a precursor thereof, whereby the liquid permeates the evacuated channel walls, and drying and calcining the filter containing the catalyst component or its precursor.

Abstract: A method of analysing a gas comprising solid particulates, hydrocarbons and acidic species comprises contacting a sample of the gas with a basic material (52) for absorbing the acidic species, analysing the inlet gas for particulates and analysing the gas leaving the basic material for particulates.

Abstract: A diesel engine comprising an exhaust system comprises: a particulate filter made from a porous material having a mean pore diameter of from 5 ?m to 40 ?m, and a porosity of at least 40% and a bulk volumetric heat capacity of at least 0.50 J cm?3 K?1 at 500° C., which filter comprising a diesel oxidation catalyst located in a zone on the front end of the filter for oxidising carbon monoxide, hydrocarbons and nitrogen monoxide, the engine comprising engine management means, in use, to provide continuously or intermittently an exhaust gas comprising sufficient nitrogen oxides or hydrocarbon and/or an exhaust gas of sufficiently high temperature to combust particulate matter in the filter.

Abstract: An exhaust system (10) for a lean-burn internal combustion engine comprises a nitrogen oxide (NOX) absorbent (28), a catalyst (30) for catalysing the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOX with a NOX specific reactant, first means (18, 22) for introducing a NOX specific reactant or a precursor thereof into an exhaust gas upstream of the SCR catalyst (30) and means (24) for controlling the introduction of the NOX-specific reactant or precursor thereof into the exhaust gas via the first introducing means (18, 22), wherein the SCR catalyst (30) is disposed upstream of the NOX absorbent (28) and optionally with the NOX absorbent, wherein the control means (24) is arranged to introduce the NOX-specific reactant or the precursor thereof to exhaust gas via the first introducing means (18, 22) only when the SCR catalyst (30) is active, whereby exhaustion of NOX-specific reactant to atmosphere is substantially prevented.

Abstract: A cost-effective solution to remove particulates from diesel, especially light-duty diesel engines incorporates an oxidation catalyst (2) effective to convert NO in the exhaust from the engine to NO2 and a particulate trap (4) which traps no more than 85% by weight of the particulate, optionally by permitting gas to by-pass the trap.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a lean-burn internal combustion engine comprises a filter (30, 36) for particulate matter and means (24) for generating an oxidant more active than molecular oxygen for combusting particulate matter disposed on the filter (30, 36), wherein the filter (30, 36) comprises a mass of elongate flat, narrow strip metal.

Abstract: A process for treating exhaust gas from a compression ignition engine wherein substantially all fuel for combustion is injected into a combustion chamber prior to the start of combustion comprises contacting the exhaust gas with a catalyst comprising a supported palladium (Pd) catalyst.

Abstract: A compression ignition engine operable in a first, normal running mode and a second mode producing exhaust gas comprising an increased level of carbon monoxide (CO) relative to the first mode and means when in use to switch engine operation between the two modes, which engine comprising an exhaust system comprising a supported palladium (Pd) catalyst associated with at least one base metal promoter and an optionally supported platinum (Pt) catalyst associated with and/or downstream of the Pd catalyst wherein CO is oxidised by the supported Pd catalyst during second mode operation.

Abstract: An exhaust system for a diesel engine includes a NOx-trap having at least one first NOx absorbent and platinum. The exhaust system also has at least one second NOx absorbent disposed upstream of the NOx trap. The at least one second NOx absorbent is alumina, ceria, or both.

Abstract: A spark ignition engine with an exhaust system having a catalyst, which includes a three-way catalyst (TWC) and a NOx storage component, and an engine control unit is provided. The engine control unit is programmed to control the air-to-fuel ratio of the engine to run at the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio during normal running conditions and to run lean of the stoichiometric air-to-fuel ratio during a defined portion of an engine speed/load. The engine control unit also determines the amount of NOx contacting the TWC during lean running operation in response to data input from a sensor means, thereby a remaining NOx storage capacity of the TWC is determined. The control unit is programmed to return the air-to-fuel ratio to stoichiometry when the NOx storage capacity is below a pre-determined value.

Abstract: A method of reducing atmospheric oxidising pollutants comprises contacting an atmospheric oxidising pollutant, such as ozone, with a precious metal-free reducing agent, wherein the reducing agent comprises at least one transition clement and/or one or more compounds including at least one transition element wherein the standard electrode potential of the redox reaction including the transition element and an ionic species of the transition element or between the ionic species of the transition element present in the or each compound and a further ionic species of the transition element is less than +1.0 volt. Illustrative reducing agents include a mixture of, optionally reduced, copper (II) oxide and zinc oxide on an alumina support, copper (II) oxide per se, and iron oxide on a mixed alumina/ceria support or a mixture of any two or more thereof.

Abstract: A cost-effective solution to remove particulates from diesel, especially light-duty diesel engines incorporates an oxidation catalyst (2) effective to convert NO in the exhaust from the engine to NO2 and a particulate trap (4) which traps no more than 85% by weight of the particulate, optionally by permitting gas to by-pass the trap.

Abstract: A method of selectively catalysing the reduction of NOx in an exhaust gas flowing in an exhaust system of an internal combustion engine comprising a filter (40) for particulate matter comprising a catalyst capable of selectively catalysing the reduction of NOx with a reducing agent, which method comprising introducing a reducing agent, or a precursor thereof, into the exhaust gas and contacting the resulting gas with the filter (40).

Abstract: A photocatalytic reactor (30) for treating exhaust gases from a power plant such as an internal combustion engine, which reactor comprising a chamber (36) for receiving a flowing exhaust gas, a first inlet (32) and a first outlet (34), at least one source of electromagnetic radiation (38) and at least one substrate monolith (10) for supporting a photocatalyst disposed in the chamber, characterised in that the substrate (10) comprises at least one passage (20) defined in part by a wall (12?), which wall comprising at least a one second inlet (13) and at least one second outlet (14), wherein the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the or each second outlet (14) being greater than the sum of the cross sectional areas of the or each second inlet (13) whereby the linear flow velocity of a gas at a point downstream of the at least one second outlet (14) is less than the linear flow velocity of the gas entering the at least one second inlet (13).

Abstract: A catalyst comprising a substrate (10) comprising at least one passage (20) defined in part by a wall (12), which wall comprising at least one inlet (13) and at least one outlet (14), wherein the sum of the cross-sectional areas of the or each outlet (14) being greater than the sum of the cross sectional areas of the or each inlet (13) whereby the linear flow velocity of a fluid at a point downstream of the at least one outlet (14) is less than the linear flow velocity of the fluid entering the at least one inlet (13), and a catalyst composition coated on the substrate.