Catalyst continued yttrium

A lean NOx trap (LNT) (or NOx adsorber) is similar to a three-way catalyst. However, part of the catalyst contains some sorbent components which can store NOx. Unlike catalysts, which involve continuous conversion, a trap stores NO and (primarily) N02 under lean exhaust conditions and releases and catalytically reduces them to nitrogen under rich conditions. The shift from lean to rich combustion, and vice versa, is achieved by a dedicated fuel control strategy. Typical sorbents include barium and rare earth metals (e.g. yttrium). An LNT does not require a separate reagent (urea) for NOx reduction and hence has an advantage over SCR. However, the urea infrastructure has now developed in Europe and USA, and SCR has become the system of choice for diesel vehicles because of its easier control and better long-term performance compared with LNT. NOx adsorbers have, however, found application in GDI engines where lower NOx-reduction efficiencies are required, and the switch between the lean and rich modes for regeneration is easier to achieve. 

Ionic liquids in combination with supercritical fluids are a versatile tool for the immobilization and recycling of homogeneous catalysts, allowing continuous Friedel-Crafts acylation reactions to be realized. The acylation of anisole with acetic anhydride is carried out in a flow system using a metal triflate immobilized in the ionic liquid 1 -butyl-4-methylpyridinium bis(trifluoro-methylsulfonyl)imide as catalyst and scCO as continuous extraction phase [22]. Different metal triflates are utilized under continuous flow conditions using high pressure yttrium triflate possesses the best balance between sufficient acidity for catalytic activity and softness to release the product and so permits a good catalyst reuse (TONs up to 190). 

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