N2O formation due to varying propylene concentrations and catalyst pellet size over a diesel oxidation catalyst

Carlos  Weiler, University of Virginia

Diesel exhaust aftertreatment systems have been designed to mitigate a variety of pollutants produced during combustion. However, literature has shown that N₂O, a greenhouse gas (GHG), is created as a byproduct over the diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC), which is cause for concern since N₂O is 300 times more potent of a GHG than CO₂. Results of literature and our experiments show N₂O formation over a Pt based DOC is a function of the type and amount of hydrocarbon in the exhaust gas and therefore the fuel source. Here we will present the effect of hydrocarbon concentration and catalyst aging, through Pt particle size, on hydrocarbon oxidation and N₂O formation.