Catalytic oxidation of NO to NO2 for industrial nitric acid production using Ag-promoted MnO2/ZrO2 catalysts

Jithin Gopakumar; Sunniva Vold; Bjørn Christian Enger; David Waller; Per Erik Vullum; Magnus Rønning

doi:10.1039/D2CY02178A

Catalytic oxidation of NO to NO₂ for industrial nitric acid production using Ag-promoted MnO₂/ZrO₂ catalysts†

Jithin Gopakumar,

^a Sunniva Vold,^a Bjørn Christian Enger,^b David Waller,^c Per Erik Vullum^d and Magnus Rønning

*^a

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU), Department of Chemical Engineering, Sem Sælands vei 4, NO-7491 Trondheim, Norway
E-mail: magnus.ronning@ntnu.no

^b SINTEF Industry, Kinetic, and Catalysis group, P.O. Box 4760 Torgarden, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway

^c YARA Technology Center, Herøya Forskningspark, Bygg 92, Hydrovegen 67, NO-3936 Porsgrunn, Norway

^d Materials and Nanotechnology, SINTEF Industry, P.O. Box 4760 Torgarden, NO-7465 Trondheim, Norway

Abstract

The Ostwald process is the most common industrial process to produce nitric acid (HNO₃). It involves three main steps; ammonia oxidation in air over Pt–Rh gauze catalysts to produce nitric oxide, homogeneous gas-phase conversion of NO to NO₂, and subsequent absorption of the NO₂ by water to produce nitric acid. Turning the homogeneous gas-phase NO oxidation reaction catalytic may lead to a significant reduction in footprint and capital expenditure. However, no industrial catalyst yet exists for this process. In this work, we focus on catalytic oxidation of NO to NO₂ using silver-promoted manganese on zirconia catalysts at industrially relevant conditions (10% NO, 6% O₂ and 15% H₂O). Silver was found to promote the low-temperature activity of manganese catalysts in both dry and wet conditions compared to unpromoted manganese. The results demonstrate that manganese catalysts are able to work at low temperatures and concentrations relevant to industrial catalytic oxidation of NO.

This article is part of the themed collection: Oxidation for a Sustainable Future and Clean Environment

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Article information

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1039/D2CY02178A
Article type: Paper
Submitted: 29 Dec 2022
Accepted: 02 Apr 2023
First published: 06 Apr 2023

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Catal. Sci. Technol., 2023,13, 2783-2793

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Catalytic oxidation of NO to NO₂ for industrial nitric acid production using Ag-promoted MnO₂/ZrO₂ catalysts

J. Gopakumar, S. Vold, B. C. Enger, D. Waller, P. E. Vullum and M. Rønning, Catal. Sci. Technol., 2023, 13, 2783 DOI: 10.1039/D2CY02178A

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