In this work, the catalytic performance of clinoptilolite (CLIN) and SBA-15 catalysts,
doped with Fe and Cu, was evaluated in the selective catalytic reduction of NO using NH3 as a
reducing agent (SCR-NH3). Both Cu-CLIN and Fe-CLIN were obtained by ion-exchange using
natural clinoptilolite zeolite originating from the Hrabovec deposit (northeast Slovakia region). Cu-
SBA-15 and Fe-SBA-15 were prepared by impregnation into SBA-15 mesoporous synthesized silica.
Standard catalytic activity tests were carried out on a bench-scale laboratory apparatus using a
reaction mixture of a standard test. GHSV of 48,000 h1 was adopted based on the space velocity of a
real NH3-SCR catalyst for diesel vehicles (100–550 C). All Cu-doped samples showed better NO
conversion values than Fe-doped samples. Clinoptilolite catalysts were more active than those based
on SBA-15. Maximum NO conversions of about 96% were observed for Cu-CLIN and Fe-CLIN at
350–400 C, respectively. Moreover, Fe-CLIN also showed higher stability in the presence of SO2 and
water steam at 350 C. These results demonstrate the potential of metal-doped natural clinoptilolite to
be used as cost-effective catalysts applied to the abatement of NOx emissions generated in automotive
combustion processes.
