CuAPSO-34 catalysts for N₂O decomposition in the presence of H₂O. A study of zeolitic structure stability in comparison to Cu-SAPO-34 and Cu-ZSM-5

N₂O is a strong greenhouse gas with a global warming potential > 270 times that of CO₂. Sources of N₂O include emissions from cars, trucks, etc. The structural stability at high temperatures of both Cu-exchanged SAPO-34 and CuAPSO-34 with isomorphously substituted copper ions was studied. The CuAPSO-34 showed good activity in N₂O decomposition even when the reaction was run in the presence of H₂O or after aging treatment under H₂O vapor at 600°C for 80 hr which led to a drastic loss of activity of Cu-ZSM-5. Structure dealumination and a reduction of ∼ 70% of the Cu⁺ ions occurred after aging under water vapor, which could be the cause of the poorer catalytic behavior of Cu-ZSM-5.