Influence of the Preparation Method of Ag-K/CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3 Catalysts on Their Structure and Activity for the Simultaneous Removal of Soot and NOx

Ag/CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3, a known catalyst for the simultaneous removal of NOx and soot, was modified by the addition of K, and was prepared using various techniques: wet impregnation, incipient wetness, and chemical vapor impregnation at different temperatures. The effect of the preparation method on catalyst activity was studied. It was found that catalysts prepared via wet impregnation, incipient wetness, and chemical vapor impregnation at 80 °C were able to utilize in situ formed N2O at low temperatures, to simultaneously remove NOx and soot. The difference in preparation method affected the catalyst’s ability to produce and use N2O as an oxidant for soot. The temperature at which chemical vapor impregnation was performed greatly influenced the catalyst’s ability to oxidize soot. The introduction of K to the Ag/CeO2-ZrO2-Al2O3 vastly improved the soot oxidation activity, particularly for the catalyst prepared via wet impregnation. However, the incorporation of K had an adverse effect on the reduction of NOx.