Adsorption in automotive catalytic converters

The effect of alkali presence on the adsorption of oxygen on metal surfaces has been extensively studied in the literature, as alkali promoters are used in catalytic reactions of technological interest where oxygen participates either directly as a reactant (e.g. ethylene epoxidation on silver) or as an intermediate (e.g. NO+CO reaction in automotive exhaust catalytic converters). A large number of model studies has addressed the oxygen interaction with alkali modified single crystal surfaces of Ag, Cu, Pt, Pd, Ni, Ru, Fe, Mo, W and Au.6... 

The primary system for controlling VOC emissions from automotive vehicles is the catalytic converter, described earlier in this chapter (see "Oxides of Nitrogen on pages 24-33). A number of different technologies have been developed for removing VOCs from flue gases of stationary sources. They include thermal and catalytic incineration, adsorption, absorption, and biofiltration. 

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