The Application of Metal-Organic Frameworks to Enhancing the Selective Catalytic Reduction of NOx to Nitrogen Gas

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Reduction in nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions from high temperature combustion processes under fuel-lean conditions continues to be a priority research area for Imperial Oil and a challenge for the energy industry. Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) is possible with metal oxides and zeolites. There is still the need to identify catalytic materials that are efficient in reducing NOx to environmentally benign nitrogen gas at temperatures lower than 300 degrees C in the presence of oxygen and moisture. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are an emerging class of highly porous materials with unique physical and chemical properties. While studies to date focused on their synthesis and characterization, their full potential as promising materials in catalysis and gas conversion for applications in the chemical/energy sectors is not yet realized. We aim to evaluate the performance of MOFs containing iron and organic linkers of various oxidative potential in the SCR of NOx. These materials passed bench scale synthesis and are marketed on mass scales by BASF. The catalytic activity of these materials will be tested under industrially-relevant conditions of pressure, temperature, NOx levels and gas phase water content. This research is significant because it presents opportunities for evaluating emerging catalytic materials for potentially game-changing replacements to existing NOx scrubbers that will help Imperial Oil meet strict emission regulations while cutting costs in NOx SCR operations at their facilities.