TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide catalyst materials for vehicle emissions purification, and methods of making and using the same.

BACKGROUND

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it may be described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present technology.

NOx emissions regulations are becoming increasingly stringent in the 21st century as they contribute significantly to global pollution and can have a negative impact on human health. Thus, there is a desire for materials for vehicle emissions purification, and more specifically, for the development of materials with high Oxygen Storage Capacity (OSC), suitable to improve fuel economy for lean burn and stoichiometric (3-way) engines while maintaining high purification of NO, unburned hydrocarbons, and CO.

SUMMARY

This section provides a general summary of the disclosure and is not a comprehensive disclosure of its full scope or all of its features.

In various aspects, the present disclosure provides a catalyst for oxygen storage applications comprising a zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide material obtained by a co-precipitation method using a precipitation agent.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method for making a zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide material by a co-precipitation method using a sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) precipitation agent.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a method of treating an exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine comprising contacting the exhaust gas with a zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide material obtained by a co-precipitation method using sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as a precipitation agent.

In another aspect, the present disclosure provides a catalytic converter, which comprises a catalyst arranged in a chamber for direct decomposition removal of NOxfrom exhaust gas stream, wherein the catalyst comprises a zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide material obtained by a co-precipitation method using sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as a precipitation agent.

The zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide material obtained by a co-precipitation method using sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) as a precipitation agent of the present disclosure employs earth abundant elements which may be locally procured. The zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide material has enhanced thermal stability, improved utilization of the metal/metal oxide component, i.e., a higher ratio of oxygen uptake per metal atom, and high OSC before and after aging at high temperatures, such as 1000° C. These advantageous properties of the zinc doped manganese-iron spinel mixed oxide material of the present disclosure such as efficient utilization of the metal component leading to increased OSC on a per metal basis allows for operation of a catalytic converter in a lean atmosphere to maximize fuel efficiency.

Further areas of applicability and various methods of enhancing the above technology will become apparent from the description provided herein. The description and specific examples in this summary are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

