The Effect of Iron Content on the Ammonia Selective Catalytic Reduction Reaction (NH₃-SCR) Catalytic Performance of FeO_x/SAPO-34

Iron-based catalysts are regarded as promising candidates for the ammonia selective catalytic reduction reaction (NH₃-SCR) which show good catalytic activity at medium and high temperatures, whereas SAPO-34 molecular sieves have a micro-pore structure and are ideal catalyst carriers. In this paper, four FeO_x/SAPO-34 molecular sieve catalysts with different iron contents (Fe = 1%, 2%, 3%, 4%) were prepared using an impregnation method. The effect of iron content on the surface properties and catalytic activity was investigated by a series of characterization techniques including XRD, SEM, BET, XPS, H₂-TPR and NH₃-TPD. Iron species in the FeO_x/SAPO-34 catalysts exist in the form of isolated iron ions or well-dispersed small crystals and iron oxide species clusters. With the addition of iron content, the integrity of CHA (chabazite) zeolite structure remained, but the crystallinity was affected. The FeO_x/SAPO-34 catalyst with 3% Fe loading showed a relatively flat surface with no large-diameter particles and strong oxidation-reduction ability. Meanwhile, more acidic sites are exposed, which accelerated the process of catalytic reaction. Thus, the FeO_x/SAPO-34 catalyst with 3% Fe showed the best NO conversion performance among the four catalysts prepared and maintained more than 90% NO conversion efficiency in a wide temperature range from 310 °C to 450 °C.