Search Results

In order to meet recent and future stringent hydrocarbon emission regulations of passenger cars, the use of Pd-containing catalysts is of growing interest. This is especially true for Pd/Rh and Pt/Pd/Rh catalysts. To optimize the function of the individual precious metals, most high-performance catalysts have a double layer configuration. This double layer avoids undesired interactions between Pd and Rh after reacting with exhaust gas at a high temperature level. Of course, these double layer technologies lead to a more complex capacity utilization coating process during the manufacture of the catalyst. The present work summarizes the results of a research program targeting the development of a high-performance single layer Pd/Rh catalyst technology. The starting point was the functional improvement of Pd and Rh only catalysts then subsequently combining the best of these technologies.

The exhaust emissions of two stroke vehicles like motorbikes and scooters contribute to the pollution in urban areas of developing countries in South East Asia and India to a major extent. But also in Japan and selected European countries exhaust gas limitations become effective from 10/1998 and 06/1999 for these vehicles. To control this emissions catalytic aftertreatment by Hot Tubes® and/or monolith type catalysts are applied. Due to the constant rich operation of the two-stroke engines, common design criteria for three-way catalysts fail. Extremely high exhaust gas hydrocarbon concentrations lead to high exotherms during oxidation which increases the exhaust gas temperature to a range between 800 and 900 °C. Furthermore the lack of oxygen limits the CO and HC oxidation under certain engine operation conditions. Therefore, water-gas shift and steam reforming reactions play an important part in catalytic aftertreatment of two-stroke exhausts.