Emission Benefits and Limitations of Passive Hydrocarbon Adsorber Technologies

Michelle  Wiebenga, GM Global R&D

Effective control of hydrocarbon (HC) emissions during cold start is critical to meeting more stringent future emission standards, and the passive HC adsorber is one technology with potential to improve cold-start HC emission control. HC adsorbers typically contain zeolite materials (for HC storage) and a noble metal-based catalyst (for oxidation of stored HCs), both of which are susceptible to hydrothermal aging. In the present study, four different HC adsorbers from catalyst suppliers were evaluated for their cold-start HC emission reduction potential in a feed containing olefins, aromatics and paraffins. These types of HCs were found to be controlled to very different extents, due to variations in their adsorption, desorption and light-off properties. The effects of hydrothermal aging as well as noble metal loading, oxygen concentration and adsorber volume were also investigated.

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