Patents by Inventor Nicola Soeger

Nicola Soeger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8926925
    Abstract: A catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in diesel engine exhaust gases using ammonia or a precursor compound decomposable to ammonia. The catalyst includes two superposed coatings applied to a support body, of which the first coating applied directly to the support body includes a transition metal-exchanged zeolite and/or a transition metal-exchanged zeolite-like compound, and effectively catalyzes the SCR reaction. The second coating is applied to the first coating to cover it on the exhaust gas side and prevent hydrocarbons having at least three carbon atoms present in the exhaust gas from contacting the first coating, without blocking the passage of nitrogen oxides and ammonia to the first coating. The second coating may be formed from small-pore zeolites and/or small-pore, zeolite-like compounds, and from suitable oxides, especially silicon dioxide, germanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium dioxide, tin oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium dioxide and mixtures thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Michael Seyler, Thomas R. Pauly, Gerald Jeske
  • Patent number: 8911697
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytically active material for reacting nitrogen oxides with ammonia in the presence of hydrocarbons. The material consists of an inner core (1) made of a zeolite exchanged with one or more transition metals or a zeolite-like compound exchanged with one or more transition metals. The core of the catalytically active material is encased by a shell (2), which is made of one or more oxides selected from silicon dioxide, germanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium dioxide, and mixed oxides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Michael Seyler, Thomas R. Pauly, Gerald Jeske
  • Patent number: 8863507
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system (method and device) for the treatment of diesel exhaust gases containing nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons is disclosed, which comprises the addition of ammonia or of a compound decomposable to ammonia into the exhaust gas stream and the subsequent leading of the exhaust gas stream over two successively arranged SCR catalysts with different properties and compositions. Both SCR catalysts are free of vanadium compounds and only the downstream SCR catalyst contains zeolite compounds. The exhaust gas purification system according to the invention is characterized by good “kick-off” behavior at low temperatures and a simultaneously high conversion performance over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Katja Adelmann, Nicola Soeger, Marcus Pfeifer, Wolfgang Schneider, Gerald Jeske, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Patent number: 8821820
    Abstract: A process for improving catalytic activity of a copper-promoted zeolitic catalyst with a chabazite structure, the copper-promoted zeolitic catalyst having a temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) signal in a temperature range from 230° C. to 240° C. as examined in a TPR with a test gas having a hydrogen content of 5% by volume, a heating rate of 10 K/min, and a catalyst sample weight containing from 3 to 8 milligrams of copper calculated as metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Seyler, Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Thomas R. Pauly, Gerald Jeske
  • Patent number: 8753596
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst for removal of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engines, and to a process for reducing the level of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of diesel engines. The catalyst consists of a support body of length L and of a catalytically active coating which in turn may be formed from one or more material zones. The material zones comprise a copper-containing zeolite or a zeolite-like compound. The materials used include chabazite, SAPO-34, ALPO-34 and zeolite ?. In addition, the material zones comprise at least one compound selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, barium hydroxide, barium carbonate, strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, strontium carbonate, praseodymium oxide, lanthanum oxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium/aluminum mixed oxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and mixtures thereof. Noble metal may optionally also be present in the catalyst.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Paul Spurk, Nicola Soeger, Elena Mueller, Stephan Malmberg
  • Publication number: 20140041366
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic converter which comprises a molecular sieve and a mixed oxide, and to a method for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in exhaust gases of diesel engines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: February 13, 2014
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Seyler, Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Paul Spurk
  • Patent number: 8617497
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of mixed oxides made of cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, rare earth sesquioxide and niobium oxide as catalytically active materials for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia or a compound that can decompose to form ammonia in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines in motor vehicles that are predominantly leanly operated, and to compositions or catalysts which contain said mixed oxides in combination with zeolite compounds and/or zeolite-like compounds and are suitable for the denitrogenation of lean motor vehicle exhaust gases in all essential operating states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Katja Adelmann, Gerald Jeske, Rainer Domesle, Nicola Soeger, Michael Seyler, Anke Schuler, Thomas R. Pauly, Barry W. L. Southward
  • Publication number: 20130336866
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalytically active material for reacting nitrogen oxides with ammonia in the presence of hydrocarbons. The material consists of an inner core (1) made of a zeolite exchanged with one or more transition metals or a zeolite-like compound exchanged with one or more transition metals. The core of the catalytically active material is encased by a shell (2), which is made of one or more oxides selected from silicon dioxide, germanium dioxide, aluminum oxide, titanium oxide, tin oxide, cerium oxide, zirconium dioxide, and mixed oxides thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Michael Seyler, Thomas R. Pauly, Gerald Jeske
  • Publication number: 20130336863
    Abstract: A catalyst for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in diesel engine exhaust gases using ammonia or a precursor compound decomposable to ammonia is described. The catalyst comprises two superposed coatings applied to a support body, of which the first coating applied directly to the support body comprises a transition metal-exchanged zeolite and/or a transition metal-exchanged zeolite-like compound, and effectively catalyzes the SCR reaction. The second coating has been applied to the first coating so as to cover it on the exhaust gas side. It is configured so as to prevent the contact of hydrocarbons having at least three carbon atoms present in the exhaust gas with the layer beneath, without blocking the passage of nitrogen oxides and ammonia to the first coating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Publication date: December 19, 2013
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Michael Seyler, Thomas R. Pauly, Gerald Jeske
  • Patent number: 8569199
    Abstract: Selective catalytic reduction with ammonia or a compound that decomposes to ammonia is a known method for the removal of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of primarily lean-burn internal combustion engines. The vanadium-containing SCR catalysts that have long been generally used for this are characterized by a good conversion profile. However, the volatility of vanadium oxide can, at higher exhaust gas temperatures, lead to the emission of toxic vanadium compounds. Zeolite-based SCR catalysts, which are used in particular in discontinuous SCR systems, constitute a very cost-intensive solution for the problem. A method is proposed by which a homogeneous cerium-zirconium mixed oxide is activated for the SCR reaction in a defined manner by the introduction of sulphur and/or transition metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Katja Adelmann, Nicola Soeger, Lothar Mussmann, Marcus Pfeifer, Gerald Jeske
  • Patent number: 8568678
    Abstract: The reductive removal of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas from internal combustion engines operated predominantly under lean conditionstakes place in a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of the nitrogen oxides by means of ammonia or a compound which can be decomposed into ammonia as reducing agent. Conventional SCR catalysts typically have a relatively narrow working temperature window, usually 350° C. to 520° C., in which good nitrogen oxide conversions can be achieved with sufficient selectivity. SCR catalyst formulations whose working window is in the temperature range from 150° C. to 350° C. generally not be used at higher temperatures since they oxidize the ammonia required as reducing 18 agent to nitrogen oxides at above 350° C. To cover the entire exhaust gas temperature range typical of vehicles having been operating internal combustion enginesextending from 200° C. to 600° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Nicola Soeger, Lothar Mussmann, Ralf Sesselmann, Katja Adelmann, Wolfgang Schneider
  • Publication number: 20130266497
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for improving the catalytic activity of a copper-promoted zeolitic catalyst with chabazite structure, to a copper-promoted zeolitic catalyst with chabazite structure and to a process for reducing nitrogen oxides in an offgas stream.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2011
    Publication date: October 10, 2013
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Seyler, Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Thomas R. Pauly, Gerald Jeske
  • Publication number: 20130189172
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst for removal of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engines, and to a process for reducing the level of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of diesel engines. The catalyst consists of a support body of length L and of a catalytically active coating which in turn may be formed from one or more material zones. The material zones comprise selectively catalytically reductive (SCR-active) mixed oxide consisting of cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, rare earth sesquioxide and niobium oxide and optionally tungsten oxide. In addition, the material zones comprise at least one compound selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, barium hydroxide, barium carbonate, strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, strontium carbonate, praseodymium oxide, lanthanum oxide, magnesium oxide, mixed magnesium/aluminum oxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and mixtures thereof. Noble metal may optionally also be present in the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 25, 2013
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Paul Spurk, Nicola Soeger, Elena Mueller, Stephan Malmberg
  • Publication number: 20130156668
    Abstract: The invention relates to a catalyst for removal of nitrogen oxides from the exhaust gas of diesel engines, and to a process for reducing the level of nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas of diesel engines. The catalyst consists of a support body of length L and of a catalytically active coating which in turn may be formed from one or more material zones. The material zones comprise a copper-containing zeolite or a zeolite-like compound. The materials used include chabazite, SAPO-34, ALPO-34 and zeolite ?. In addition, the material zones comprise at least one compound selected from the group consisting of barium oxide, barium hydroxide, barium carbonate, strontium oxide, strontium hydroxide, strontium carbonate, praseodymium oxide, lanthanum oxide, magnesium oxide, magnesium/aluminum mixed oxide, alkali metal oxide, alkali metal hydroxide, alkali metal carbonate and mixtures thereof. Noble metal may optionally also be present in the catalyst.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2011
    Publication date: June 20, 2013
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Paul Spurk, Nicola Soeger, Elena Mueller, Stephan Malmberg
  • Publication number: 20130121902
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of mixed oxides made of cerium oxide, zirconium oxide, rare earth sesquioxide and niobium oxide as catalytically active materials for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with ammonia or a compound that can decompose to form ammonia in the exhaust gas of internal combustion engines in motor vehicles that are predominantly leanly operated, and to compositions or catalysts which contain said mixed oxides in combination with zeolite compounds and/or zeolite-like compounds and are suitable for the denitrogenation of lean motor vehicle exhaust gases in all essential operating states.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Katja Adelmann, Gerald Jeske, Rainer Domesle, Nicola Soeger, Michael Seyler, Anke Schuler, Thomas R. Pauly, Barry W.L. Southward
  • Patent number: 8389432
    Abstract: Structured automotive catalysts which comprise a plurality of different catalytically active coatings arranged above one another on a support body and whose coatings contain transition metals and porous support materials are well known. Structured automotive catalysts of this type which do not belong to the group of three-way catalysts, in particular, frequently display large selectivity losses after thermal aging processes which can be attributed to the thermally induced migration of transition metal atoms from one layer into the neighboring coating. The introduction of a diffusion barrier which slows or prevents the thermally induced migration of transition metal atoms from one catalytically active layer into the other increases the thermal aging stability of such catalysts significantly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Lothar Muβmann, Nicola Söger, Ralf Sesselmann, Katja Adelmann, Wolfgang Schneider
  • Patent number: 8226896
    Abstract: A catalytically active diesel particulate filter with ammonia trap action is presented, which, in addition to an oxidation-active coating (2), comprises a coating (1) which is catalytically active in the SCR reaction. By means of this inventive diesel particulate filter, it is possible to make exhaust gas aftertreatment systems for removing nitrogen oxides and particulates from the exhaust gas of lean engines considerably simpler and less expensive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Marcus Pfeifer, Markus Koegel, Wolfgang Schneider, Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Gerald Jeske, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20110146237
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification system (method and device) for the treatment of diesel exhaust gases containing nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbons is disclosed, which comprises the addition of ammonia or of a compound decomposable to ammonia into the exhaust gas stream and the subsequent leading of the exhaust gas stream over two successively arranged SCR catalysts with different properties and compositions. Both SCR catalysts are free of vanadium compounds and only the downstream SCR catalyst contains zeolite compounds. The exhaust gas purification system according to the invention is characterized by good “kick-off” behavior at low temperatures and a simultaneously high conversion performance over a wide temperature range.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Applicant: Umicore AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Katja Adelmann, Nicola Soeger, Marcus Pfeifer, Wolfgang Schneider, Gerald Jeske, Thomas Kreuzer
  • Publication number: 20110142737
    Abstract: A catalyst and a process for selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides in diesel engine exhaust gases with ammonia or a compound decomposable to ammonia are described. The exhaust gas to be cleaned is passed together with ammonia or a compound decomposable to ammonia over a catalyst which comprises a zeolite or a zeolite-like compound containing 1-10% by weight of copper, based on the total weight of the zeolite or of the zeolite-like compound, and a homogeneous cerium-zirconium mixed oxide and/or a cerium oxide. The zeolite used or the zeolite-like compound used is selected from the group consisting of chabazite, SAPO-34, ALPO-34 and zeolite-?.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael SEYLER, Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Anke Schuler, Thomas R. Pauly, Gerald Jeske
  • Publication number: 20110056187
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for treating diesel engine exhaust gases comprising nitrogen oxides (NOx) and hydrocarbons (HC) by selective catalytic reduction of the nitrogen oxides with ammonia or a compound decomposable to ammonia as a reducing agent over an SCR catalyst based on a molecular sieve. The properties of the catalyst used are such that the hydrocarbons present in the exhaust gas are kept away from the catalytically active sites in the catalyst over which the reactions take place by the molecular sieve-like action of the zeolite present in the catalyst. This prevents HC-related degradation and aging effects of the SCR catalyst and achieves a considerable improvement in nitrogen oxide conversions in HC-containing exhaust gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 18, 2009
    Publication date: March 10, 2011
    Applicant: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventors: Michael Seyler, Nicola Soeger, Katja Adelmann, Gerald Jeske