Fe-doped LaCoO3 perovskite catalyst for NO oxidation in the post-treatment of marine diesel engine’s exhaust emissions

New post-treatment process for marine diesel engine exhaust emissions was proposed by combining NO oxidation and wet scrubbing technology for the simultaneous removal of SOX, NOX and PM. NO, insoluble in aqueous scrubbing absorbent, is preferentially oxidized to NO2, which then turns fully soluble in it. Fe substituted LaCo1-xFexO3 perovskite catalysts were developed for NO oxidation to NO2. The catalysts were prepared by co-precipitation method and analyzed with XRD, XRF, BET, FT-IR, NO-TPD and XPS techniques. Crystal structure change from rhombohedral to orthorhombic was observed with the increased amount of Fe substituted in the B site of the perovskite by XRD analysis. From FT-IR and NO-TPD analysis, nitrate on perovskite species was found to be the active species for NO oxidation. Quantitative analysis was performed within the prepared catalysts. Catalytic activity was measured using a packed bed reactor operated at 150–400 °C, atmospheric pressure and with gas hourly space velocity (GHSV) of 20,000 h-1 using a simulated exhaust gas composed of NO 400 ppm, O2 10% balanced with N2. Formation of Fe4+ cation enhanced the redox property as well as the mobility of the lattice oxygen present in the perovskite catalysts, confirmed by XPS analysis. Reaction mechanism of NO oxidation on Fe substituted LaCo1-xFexO3 was discussed based on Mars-van Krevelen mechanism.