Catalysts for neutralizing air and gaseous exhausts

Abstract

A catalyst for neutralizing vapors and aerosols of organic compounds, carbon monoxide, and a variety of other oxidizable materials from an exhaust which contains oxygen. The catalyst has a carrier made either from titanium dioxide and aluminum oxide or from magnesium-aluminum spinel modified with titanium dioxide. The catalyst has a surface film of active components which include copper oxide and copper chromite (or their nickel or cobalt analog) chemically integrated into the carrier surface by Cu-o-Ti and Cr-O-Ti chains (or their nickel or cobalt analog). The catalyst should comprise from about 0.1% to about 15% by weight of copper oxide (CuO), chromium oxide (Cr.sub.2 O.sub.3), or mixtures of those compounds; from about 5% to about 25% by weight of copper chromite (CuCr.sub.2 O.sub.4); from about 3% to about 25% by weight titanium dioxide (TiO.sub.2); and from about 60% to about 90% by weight of aluminum oxide (Al.sub.2 O.sub.3), magnesium/aluminum spinel (MgAl.sub.2 O.sub.4), or mixtures of those compounds. Some or all of the copper ingredients can optionally be replaced with the corresponding nickel or cobalt compounds or mixtures thereof. A method of catalytically treating the impurities of exhausts with the present catalysts (particularly organic compounds), and thus converting them into carbon dioxide and water, is disclosed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.