3D-Printed Monoliths Based on Cu-Exchanged SSZ-13 as Catalyst for SCR of NOx

Monoliths manufactured by Direct Ink Writing containing 60% SSZ-13 (SiO2/Al2O3 = 23) and SiO2 with 10% laponite as a binder were investigated as self-standing structured catalysts for NH3-SCR of NOx after a short (4 h) and prolonged (24 h) ion exchange with copper and then compared with pure SSZ-13 exchanged under the same conditions. The catalysts were characterized by morphological (XRD and SEM), textural (BET and pore size distribution), chemical (ICP-MS), red-ox (H2-TPR), and surface (NH3-TPD) analyses. The silica-based binder uniformly covered the SSZ-13 particles, and copper was uniformly distributed as well. The main features of the pure Cu-exchanged SSZ-13 zeolite were preserved in the composite monoliths with a negligible contribution of the binder fraction. NH3-SCR tests, carried out on both monolithic and powdered samples in the temperature range of 70–550 °C, showed that composite monoliths provided very good activity, and that the intrinsic activity of SSZ-13 was enhanced by the hierarchical structure of the composite material.