Three way catalyst,

Exhaust emission standards since the 1981 model year vehicles have required the use of three-way catalysts, either alone or in combination with an oxidation catalyst. Three-way catalysts are designed to operate in a very narrow range about the stoichiometric air/fuel ratio. In this range the HC and CO are subject to oxidation and the NO, compounds undergo reduction. The downstream oxidation catalyst in a dual bed system is generally used as a "clean-up catalyst lo further control HC and CO emissions. The most common catalytic combination in three-way uses is platinum/rhodium. Current production applications use these elements in a relatively rich proportion of 5 1 lo 10 1. whereas the respective mine ratio is about 19 1. 

The emission of nitrogen oxides (NOx) from automotive and stationary sources causes serious environmental concern. Automotive exhaust gas aftertreatment systems are commonly based on precious metal catalysts (three way or diesel oxidation catalysts). One undesired effect during NOx reduction with these catalysts is the formation of N2O, which is now considered to be an environmental pollutant also [1,2], In this report the generation of N2 and N2O during NOx decomposition or reduction on Pt/alumina is investigated. 

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