The subject of the offer is catalyst, α-Al₂O₃ supported, dedicated to reduce the emission of N₂O in a low temperature range.

Nitrous oxide, sweet-tasting and colorless gas, known as laughing gas, is used in chemicals manufacturing, pressure packaging and also in medicine.

In the same time, N₂O is emitted during many agricultural and industrial activities. Globally, about 1% of all the nitrogen fertiliser applied to the soil is emitted to the atmosphere as nitrous oxide.

Furthermore, a single nitrous oxide molecule has 298 times higher the global warming potential comparing to carbon dioxide molecule.

In medical treatment, nitrous oxide is widely used as a base anaesthetic, extensively for relative analgesia and as a freezing agent in cryosurgery. Therefore, it is a component of waste hospital gas mixture.

Application:

Hospital gases collectors, nitric acid production plant emitters, adipic acic production plant emitters.

Many different ways to collect and destroy the used nitrous oxide were investigated, but the catalyst for low temperature range is still highly demanded to proceed the reduction process.

Offered invention relates to:

- Manufacture technology of supported spinel catalyst: K/Co_2,6Zn_0,4|α-Al₂O₃, 10-15% of active phase supported α-Al₂O₃;

- Preliminary examination confirmed catalyst activity after 1000h exposure in gas mixture: H₂O, O₂ NO_x i N₂O. Operating GHSV was of 5000 h⁻¹;

- For N₂O, 90% - 99% is converted in temperature range 450-500°C;

- The form of catalyst is one-opening-Raschig rings (d_ex /h ~ 4/2 mm).

Catalyst mechanical properties:

- Crush strenght: 20 daN/ring

- Porosity: 50-54%

- Bulk density: 730-750 kg/m³

This technology is subject to a patent application in the area of Poland and EPO (with priority date 13/03/2015). Further development of the invention is under progress at Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University.