Abstract: Where oxygenated hydrocarbons, such as ethanol, may be considered for use as a reductant to be added to diesel or gasoline engine exhaust for promoting the catalyzed reduction of NOx to N2, there is a need to continually adjust the amount of the reductant to be added as engine and catalyst operating conditions change. It is found that useful methods, to be practiced using a suitably programmed on-vehicle computer, can be based on a correlation for ethanol, or other specific reductant, with continually measured values of catalyst temperature, the oxygen and NOx contents of the exhaust, and the volumetric flow rate of the exhaust over a reduction catalyst, such as silver supported on alumina, selected for reduction of NOx to nitrogen. Effective amounts of the reductant for substantial reduction of NOx may be reliably determined using at least such parameters.

Abstract: A bi-functional catalyst material, a SCR converter that includes the bi-functional catalyst material, an exhaust aftertreatment system that includes the SCR converter, and a method for removing NOX contained in an exhaust flow produced by a lean-burn engine are disclosed. The bi-functional catalyst material can (1) oxidize NO to NO2 and (2) selectively reduce NOX to N2 when exposed to an exhaust mixture that comprises the exhaust flow from the lean-burn engine and a suitable reductant. The bi-functional catalyst material comprises metal oxide particles selected from the group consisting of perovskite oxide particles and manganese-based mixed metal oxide particles dispersed on a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system and a method for treating exhaust produced by a lean-burn engine are provided. The exhaust aftertreatment system may include an exhaust gas treatment subsystem and a clean-up oxidation catalyst located downstream of the exhaust gas treatment subsystem. The clean-up oxidation catalyst can selectively oxidize NH3 to N2 in the hot, oxygen-abundant exhaust flow emanated from the lean-burn engine and passed through the exhaust gas treatment subsystem to help prevent ammonia slip to the atmosphere. The clean-up oxidation catalyst comprises perovskite oxide particles and/or manganese-containing mixed metal oxide particles dispersed on a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) catalyst.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described to selectively reduce NOx emissions of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust aftertreatment system includes an injection device operative to dispense a hydrocarbon reductant upstream of a silver-alumina catalytic reactor device. A control system determines a NOx concentration and hydrocarbon/NOx ratio based upon selected parameters of the exhaust gas feedstream and dispenses hydrocarbon reductant during lean engine operation. Included is a method to control elements of the feedstream during lean operation. The hydrocarbon reductant may include engine fuel.

Abstract: Catalysts, systems and methods are described to reduce NOx emissions of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, an emissions treatment system for an exhaust stream is provided having a catalyst comprising silver and a platinum group metal on a particulate alumina support, the atomic fraction of the platinum group metal being less than or equal to about 0.25. Methods of manufacturing catalysts are described in which silver is impregnated on alumina particles.

Abstract: A method for monitoring a hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device of an exhaust aftertreatment system of an internal combustion engine operating lean of stoichiometry includes injecting a reductant into an exhaust gas feedstream upstream of the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device at a predetermined mass flowrate of the reductant, and determining a space velocity associated with a predetermined forward portion of the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device. When the space velocity exceeds a predetermined threshold space velocity, a temperature differential across the predetermined forward portion of the hydrocarbon-selective catalytic reactor device is determined, and a threshold temperature as a function of the space velocity and the mass flowrate of the reductant is determined.

Abstract: An after-treatment system architecture and method for oxidizing the nitric oxide component of a gas stream.

Abstract: One embodiment of the invention may include a product comprising a catalyst combination comprising a perovskite catalyst and a second catalyst that is not a perovskite catalyst.

Abstract: A method for initiating a regeneration mode in selective catalytic reduction device utilizing hydrocarbons as a reductant includes monitoring a temperature within the aftertreatment system, monitoring a fuel dosing rate to the selective catalytic reduction device, monitoring an initial conversion efficiency, selecting a determined equation to estimate changes in a conversion efficiency of the selective catalytic reduction device based upon the monitored temperature and the monitored fuel dosing rate, estimating changes in the conversion efficiency based upon the determined equation and the initial conversion efficiency, and initiating a regeneration mode for the selective catalytic reduction device based upon the estimated changes in conversion efficiency.

Abstract: Provided is a process for producing ammonia by the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxide in the presence of a hydrocarbon, and in certain embodiments, in the presence of an oxygenated hydrocarbon.

Abstract: An exhaust aftertreatment system connected to an internal combustion engine operative lean of stoichiometry includes first and second selective catalytic reactor devices. A preferred ratio of hydrocarbon:NOx to achieve a preferred concentration of ammonia immediately downstream of the first selective catalytic reactor device is determined. An ethanol-based reductant is dispensed upstream of the first selective catalytic reactor device.

Abstract: Engine exhaust gas feedstream NOx emissions aftertreatment includes a catalytic device and first and second ammonia selective catalytic reduction devices. The first and second ammonia-selective catalytic reduction devices each includes a base metal. Engine operation can be modulated to generate an engine-out exhaust gas feedstream that converts to ammonia. The ammonia is stored on the first and second ammonia selective catalytic reduction devices and used to reduce NOx emissions in the exhaust gas feedstream.

Abstract: A method for operating an internal combustion engine includes controlling the engine to a preferred air/fuel ratio to generate an engine-out exhaust gas feedstream including preferred concentrations of nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen, converting the nitric oxide, carbon monoxide, and hydrogen to ammonia across a first catalytic device; and storing the ammonia on an ammonia-selective catalytic reduction device fluidly serially connected downstream of the first catalytic device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are described to selectively reduce NOx emissions of an internal combustion engine. An exhaust aftertreatment system comprises an injection device operative to dispense a hydrocarbon reductant upstream of a silver-alumina catalytic reactor device. A control system determines a NOx concentration and hydrocarbon/NOx ratio based upon selected parameters of the exhaust gas feedstream and dispenses hydrocarbon reductant during lean engine operation. Included is a method to control elements of the feedstream during lean operation. The hydrocarbon reductant may comprise engine fuel.

Abstract: Catalysts, systems and methods are described to reduce NOx emissions of an internal combustion engine. In one embodiment, an emissions treatment system for an exhaust stream is provided having a catalyst comprising silver and a platinum group metal on a particulate alumina support, the atomic fraction of the platinum group metal being less than or equal to about 0.25. Methods of manufacturing catalysts are described in which silver is impregnated on alumina particles.

Abstract: The nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) content of lean-burn engine exhaust is beneficially prepared for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of these oxides to nitrogen by two sidestream additions to the exhaust. An ozone-containing air stream is added to the exhaust to affect oxidation of NO to NO2. And a hydrocarbon(s) fuel constituent is added to a second humidified ozone-containing air stream and that mixture subjected to UV radiation. Strongly oxidizing hydroxyl radicals are formed by interaction of ozone, water, and UV radiation for reaction with the hydrocarbon. The resulting partially oxidized hydrocarbons (Pox) are added to the exhaust, providing effective reduction materials for the SCR of NO2 to nitrogen and water.

Abstract: A plasma reactor for automotive exhaust gas applications which efficiently promotes diffusion, mass transfer and chemical reaction processes of atoms, ions and radicals, in that the ground (outer) electrode has an axially discrete pattern which provides alternating regions of active and passive electric field along the axial direction of the plasma reactor. As the exhaust gas passes axially along the plasma reactor, each active region produces plasma atoms, ions and radicals, which then have time to react with the NOx over the course of the adjacent passive region. In this manner, successive active regions produce copious atoms, radicals and ions, and the adjacent passive regions provide time for these radicals and ions to react with the NOx and hydrocarbons before the next active region is encountered by the moving stream of exhaust gas, thereby enhancing the performance of the plasma reactor.

Abstract: A method of partially oxidizing an alcohol to an aldehyde or ketone comprises contacting a gas containing the alcohol with a solid catalyst containing molybdenum, preferably in a +6 oxidation state, and having a surface area of 10 m2/g or higher, preferably 100 m2/g or higher. The molybdenum is supported on a high surface area carrier. The alcohol is a primary or secondary alcohol and preferably contains from 1 to 6 carbon atoms. In a preferred embodiment, the alcohol is ethanol. NOx emissions from an internal combustion engine can be lowered by combining the product of partial oxidation with the exhaust stream before passing the exhaust mixture through a lean NOx catalyst.