# Patent

## Title
Selective catalytic reduction of N2O

## Abstract

A gas stream containing nitrous oxide and ammonia is contacted with a catalyst composition containing a zeolite. N2O is reduced to N2 and H2O at low temperatures in a highly efficient manner. Ammonia-mediated reduction of nitrous oxide can be effectuated from gas streams having N2O concentrations as low as 1%. The gas stream may also contact a catalytic composition selective for the reduction of NOx. In this way, N2O and Nx treatment may be effectuated in a single process stream.

## Background
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to an improved method for the reduction of nitrous oxide; and more particularly, to ammonia-mediated reduction of nitrous oxide.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Nitrous oxide (N2O) is not commonly considered an atmospheric pollutant and has not been considered a constituent of the gaseous pollutants collectively referred to as nitrogen oxides (NOx) which have received wide attention as pollutants harmful to the environment. However, recent studies indicate that N2O in the Earth's atmosphere may be increasing at a rate of about 0.2% per year and that this increase appears to be caused by anthropogenic activity.
N2O is a major stratospheric source of NO, is believed to be involved in destroying the ozone layer and is recognized to be a greenhouse gas. Because N2O has an atmospheric lifetime of approximately 150 years, researchers are attempting to identify sources of the pollutant and to limit further production of the harmful gas. Recent reports such as an article by Thiemens and Trogler, Science, 251(1991)932 suggest that various industrial processes significantly contribute to the increased levels of N2O found in the Earth's atmosphere.
For example, nitrous oxide is a by-product formed during the manufacture of monomers used in producing 6,6- and 6,12-nylon. Nylon polymers are typically formed by subjecting a dicarboxylic acid and a diamine to a condensation polymerization reaction. The most widely used dicarboxylic acid, adipic acid, is prepared primarily by oxidizing cyclohexane in air to form a cyclohexanol/cyclohexanone mixture followed by oxidizing such mixture with HNO3 to form adipic acid and N2O. Thiemens and Trogler calculate that about 1 mol of N2O per mole of adipic acid is formed as a side product in adipic acid processes. Assuming that 2.2×109 kg of adipic acid are produced globally per year, about 1.5×1010 mol yr−1 of N2O by-product or 10% of the annual output of atmospheric N2O can be attributed to this single process. Also, for many industrial processes, N2O may be co-present with nitrogen oxides, NOx (NO and NO2), in the effluent gases.
M. Schiavello and coworkers, (J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans. 1, 71(8), 1642-8) studied various magnesium oxide-iron oxides and magnesium oxide-iron oxide-lithium oxide systems as N2O decomposition catalysts. While magnesium oxide-iron oxide samples which were fired in air and which contained MgFe2O4 demonstrated low activity, similar samples fired under reducing atmospheres and containing Fe2+ in solid solution demonstrated greater activity. The researchers concluded that Fe3+ ions in the ferrite phase are not catalytically active toward the subject reaction whereas Fe3+ ions contained in MgO together with Li+ are catalytically active when the ratio of lithium to iron is less than 1.
P. Porta and coworkers (J. Chem. Soc. Faraday Trans 1, 74(7), 1595-603) studied the structure and catalytic activity of CoxMg1-xAl2O4 spinel solid solutions for use as catalysts in decomposing N2O into gaseous nitrogen and oxygen. The catalytic activity per cobalt ion in various N2O decomposition catalysts was found to increase with increasing dilution in MgO. The distribution of cobalt ions among octahedral and tetrahedral sites in the spinel structure of CoxMg1-xAl2O4 was found to vary with temperature and the fraction of cobalt ions in octahedral sites was found to increase with increasing quenching temperature. The researchers concluded that catalytic activity generally increases as a greater amount of cobalt ions is incorporated into octahedral sites in the structure.
W. Reichle (Journal of Catalysis 94 (1985) 547) reported that various anionic clay minerals belonging to the pyroaurite-sjogrenite group, such as hydrotalcite (Mg6Al2(OH)16(CO32−)·4H2O can be thermally decomposed to form a product which is a useful catalyst for vapor-phase aldol condensations. Replacement of Mg by Fe, Co, Ni and Zn and/or replacement of Al by Fe and Cr also results in isomorphous double hydroxides which, on heat treatment, are rendered catalytically active. The reference also states that the activity of the catalyst is strongly affected by the temperature at which the hydrotalcite is activated.
Commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,171,553 discloses a highly efficient, commercially viable process for removing N2O from gaseous mixtures. The process utilizes catalysts comprising a crystalline zeolite which, at least in part, comprise five membered rings having a structure type selected from the group consisting of BETA, MOR, MFI, MEL and FER wherein the crystalline zeolite has been at least partially ion-exchanged with a metal selected from the group consisting of copper, cobalt, rhodium, iridium, ruthenium and palladium.
Likewise, commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,407,652 discloses an efficient catalytic pollution control process for removing N2O from gaseous mixtures. The process utilizes catalysts derived from anionic clay minerals such as hydrocalcites, sjogrenites and pyroaurites which, after appropriate heat activation, provide superior N2O decomposition activity.
While the prior art has shown an awareness of the decomposition of N2O into its respective components, industry urgently needs to develop enhanced catalytic processes for destroying N2O emissions prior to the venting of commercial process effluent streams into the atmosphere. This need is particularly critical with respect to effluent streams containing low levels of this contaminant. In addition, methods are needed to remove this contaminant from engine exhaust streams. It would be particularly useful if the catalytic decomposition of N2O could be combined with reduction of NOx so as to economically and efficiently remove these pollutants from both industrial effluent streams and engine exhaust streams.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for ammonia-mediated reduction of nitrous oxide comprising contacting a gas stream containing nitrous oxide and ammonia with a catalyst composition comprising a zeolite. Advantageously, N2O is reduced to N2 and H2O at lower temperatures and with greater efficiency than heretofore known in the art. In this way, the present invention provides an economical and reliable control method for nitrous oxide pollution.
In another aspect of the invention there is provided a method for ammonia-mediated N2O and NOx reduction comprising contacting a gas stream containing ammonia with a catalyst composition containing an upstream catalyst and a downstream catalyst as sensed relative to the sequence of flow of the gaseous stream through the catalyst wherein the upstream catalyst is selective for the reduction of NOx and the downstream catalyst is selective for the reduction of N2O. Alternatively, this catalyst configuration may be reversed. Advantageously, the upstream and downstream catalysts can comprise the same material. The ability to control N2O and NOx in a single process stream and, where desired, with a single catalytic material, results in significant cost savings. Such a combined process is particularly useful in industries and in engine exhaust streams where N2O and NOx are present in the outgas.



BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be more fully understood and further advantages will become apparent when reference is had to the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:
FIG. 1 is a graph of laboratory data showing % N2O conversion versus catalyst temperature for a zeolite based Fe-exchanged catalyst;
FIG. 2 is a graph depicting % ammonia conversion versus catalyst temperature for the same test series as in FIG. 1;
FIG. 3 is a graph depicting % N2O conversion versus catalyst temperature for a V2O5/TiO2 catalyst;
FIG. 4 is a graph depicting % ammonia conversion versus catalyst temperature for a V2O5/TiO2 catalyst;
FIG. 5 is a graph depicting % N2O conversion versus catalyst temperature for a Pt/Au catalyst;
FIG. 6 is a graph depicting % ammonia conversion versus catalyst temperature for a Pt/Au catalyst;
FIG. 7 is a graph of laboratory results showing the use of a zeolite catalyst to remove NOx and N2O in the absence of NH3.
FIG. 8 is a graph of laboratory results showing the use of a zeolite catalyst to achieve reduction for both NOx and N2O gases by introducing NH3 into the gas stream;
FIG. 9 is a schematic of the apparatus for the control of N2O gas; and
FIG. 10 is a schematic of the apparatus for the control of N2O and NOx.



DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a highly efficient catalytic method for converting nitrous oxide (N2O) into environmentally safe products, namely gaseous nitrogen and water. The method is based on the surprising discovery that adding ammonia to a gas stream containing N2O and passing the mixture over a zeolite catalyst composition results in enhanced N2O reduction than otherwise known in the art. Specifically, the N2O decomposition rate is enhanced when ammonia is introduced to the gas stream. In so doing, the introduced ammonia is also converted into N2 and water, with its own conversion rate increased by the presence of N2O. As a result of this enhanced N2O decomposition rate, the method is capable of reducing N2O at much lower temperatures and/or lower catalyst volumes than presently required. Moreover, the enhanced N2O removal offered by the present invention permits the removal of low levels of N2O (i.e., less than 1% N2O) from process streams. The method can also be combined with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of nitrous oxides (NOx) to achieve simultaneous removal of N2O and NOx. This is particularly advantageous for internal combustion engines or industrial processes where N2O and NOx are both present in the outgas.
In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a method for the reduction of a gas stream containing nitrous oxide which comprises contacting a gas stream containing N2O with ammonia over a catalyst composition comprising a zeolite in order to catalyze the reduction of the N2O with ammonia. Such gaseous streams, for example, the products of combustion of internal combustion engines, boilers, and the nitric acid manufacturing process often inherently contain substantial amounts of oxygen. These exhaust gases contain from about 2 to 15 volume percent oxygen and from about 20 to 100,000 volume parts per million (ppm) N2O. Zeolites, and in particular, metal-promoted zeolites can be used to promote the reaction of ammonia with N2O to form nitrogen and H2O selectively over a competing reaction of oxygen and ammonia.
It is desirable in the method to provide sufficient ammonia to react completely with the N2O present in order to drive the reaction to completion. However, in practice, significant excess ammonia is normally not provided because the discharge of unreacted ammonia from the catalyst to the atmosphere would itself engender an air pollution problem. Accordingly, the ratio of ammonia to N2O in the gas stream should range up to about 2.0 ppm NH3/ppm N2O based on the total volume of the gas stream in order to impact N2O reduction. The NH3/N2O ratio should be at least 0.5, with the most preferred ratio being from about 0.8 to about 1.0 NH3/N2O. Addition of the foregoing amounts of ammonia to the gas stream advantageously enhances N2O conversion over process streams lacking ammonia.
As previously indicated, the method of the present invention is useful for ammonia-mediated N2O reduction at lower processing temperatures than previously known in the art. In accordance with the present invention, N2O reduction can be enhanced over conventional processes at temperatures of greater than 250° C. and preferably those ranging from 350° C. to 600° C. and most preferably 450° C. to 600° C.
Generally, any suitable zeolitic material may be utilized in the catalyst compositions of the invention. Preferably, the zeolitic materials are ion-exchanged with Fe, Cu, Co, Ce, Pt, Rh, Pd, Ir, Mg. Ion-exchanging the zeolitic materials serves to enhance the catalytic activity toward and selectivity for the reaction between NH3 and N2O. Useful zeolites for practice of the present invention include crystalline zeolites which, at least in part, comprise five membered rings having a structure type selected from the group consisting of BETA, MOR, MFI, ZSM, MEL, FER and Y. Of these, BETA, ZSM, MOR and Y are particularly preferred, and BETA is the most preferred. Suitable ion exchange compounds include Fe, Cu, Co, Ce, Pt, Rh, Pd, Ir, and Mg, with Fe, Cu, Co, Ce, Pd, Rh and Fe, Ce, Cu, Co and combinations thereof most preferred. Such ion-exchange techniques are well known in the art and are reviewed in Breck, Zeolite Molecular Sieves, Structure, Chemistry and Use, Chapter 7, Ion-Exchange Reactions and Zeolites, beginning on page 529, published by John Wiley and Sons, New York, 1974 which is expressly incorporated herein by reference.
Because the invention is capable of reducing N2O at lower temperatures, removal efficiencies of >90% can be attained at temperatures of 300° C. to 600° C., with removal efficiency calculated as [[(inlet N2O (moles)—outlet N2O (moles))/inlet N2O moles]* 100]. In addition, the method of the present invention can also remove small quantities of N2O from gas streams having low levels of this contaminant; for example, less than 1%. Advantageously, the method of the present invention can remove N2O from gas streams containing as much as about 5000 ppm N2O to as low as 20 ppm at these temperatures.
The method described herein may also be combined with selective catalytic reduction of NOx to achieve simultaneous removal of NOx and N2O from a single process stream. For example, many industrial process streams and engine exhausts contain NOx and N2O. Prior to the present invention, there was no suitable method for controlling both of these contaminants in a single process stream, due to the fact that most SCR catalysts are operated at less than 550° C. and no suitable catalyst was found to destroy N2O effectively at those temperatures.
Where it is desired to simultaneously remove NOx and N2O from a single process stream, ammonia is introduced into the process stream upstream of the catalyst bed. The catalyst bed contains an upstream catalyst and a downstream catalyst. Three arrangements can be made to achieve the simultaneous removal. In one arrangement, the upstream and downstream catalysts comprise the same material which can promote both the selective reduction reaction of NOx and reduction of N2O. For this arrangement, a zeolite-based SCR catalyst, such as Fe/Beta, can be very effective. The ability to control NOx and N2O in the same reactor will result in significant savings in control costs. For this arrangement, the exhaust temperature is preferably in the range of 350° C. to 600° C. The second arrangement comprises an upstream catalyst which is selective for the reduction of N2O and a downstream catalyst selective for the reduction of NOx. In this arrangement, the ammonia required for N2O and NOx removal is introduced before the upstream N2O catalyst, which gives higher NH3 concentration to further enhance the N2O removal rate. The unconverted ammonia is then reacted with NOx over the downstream SCR catalyst and converted to N2 and water. This arrangement is advantageous for streams that contain a high concentration of N2O relative to NOx, since the downstream SCR bed is used to convert the low level of NOx and NH3. The third arrangement comprises an upstream catalyst which is selective for the reduction of NOx (SCR NOx) and a downstream catalyst which is selective for reduction of N2O. This arrangement is advantageous for treating streams that contain high concentrations of NOx relative to N2O. The unconverted ammonia coming off of the catalyst selective for the reduction of NOx is used to promote reduction of N2O over the downstream catalyst. Methods and suitable catalytic materials for removing NOx are well known in the art and are described in detail in commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 5,024,981 of Barry K. Speronello et at., entitled “Staged Metal-Promoted Zeolite Catalysts and Method for Catalytic Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides Using Same,” and commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,917 of John W. Byrne entitled “Zeolite Catalysts and Method for Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides With Ammonia Using Same,” both of which are expressly incorporated herein by reference.
In this aspect of the invention, the catalysts are arranged in at least two zones in which one zone contains a catalyst selective for the reduction of NOx, and the other zone contains a zeolite catalyst selective for the reduction of N2O. Any suitable form of the catalyst may be used in these and other aspects of the invention, such as a monolithic honeycomb-type body containing a plurality of fine parallel gas flow passages extending therethrough, the walls of which are coated with the catalytic material. Typically, such monolithic bodies are made of a refractory ceramic material such as cordierite, mullite or aluminia, and the catalytic material coating the fine gas flow passages is contacted by the gaseous stream as it flows through the gas flow passages. Separate monolith bodies may be used for each of the zones. As indicated above, each of the zones preferably comprises the same catalytic material.
The catalyst may also take the form of a packed bed of pellets, tablets, extrudates or other particles of shaped pieces, such as plates, saddles, tubes or the like. The physical configuration of the catalyst used in a given case will depend on a number of factors such as the space available for the catalytic reactor, the activity of the catalytic material utilized, and the permitted or desired amount of pressure drop across the catalyst bed; for example, where the method is used to treat engine exhausts. A preferred physical configuration of the catalyst is one which provides parallel flow passageways for the gas, such as those found in the above-described honeycomb-type catalysts. Other arrangements providing such parallel flow passageways include the use of parallel plates or stacked tubes. Because of its ease of handling and installation as well as good mass transfer characteristics relative to other parallel passage configurations, a highly preferred physical configuration of the catalysts of the invention is a monolithic honeycomb member having relatively high cell (flow passageway) density of approximately 60 cells or more per square inch of end face of the honeycomb member. The walls defining the gas flow passages (or cells) are desirably as thin as possible consistent with the requisite mechanical strength of the honeycomb. Catalysts used in the invention may take the form of a monolithic honeycomb carrier, the gas flow passages of which comprise or are coated with separate zeolite catalytic compositions as described above. For example, a catalytically inert honeycomb member, such as a cordierite carrier, may be coated with a washcoat of fine particles of a catalyst selective for the reduction of N2O. Alternatively, a powder of a catalyst selective for the reduction of N2O may be mixed with a binder and extruded into the honeycomb configuration. In another approach, the catalytic material may be formed in situ by preparing the honeycomb structure from a zeolitic precursor raw material which is then treated to form the zeolitic material as part of the honeycomb structure.
The following examples are presented to provide a more complete understanding of the invention. The specific techniques, conditions, materials, proportions and reported data set forth to illustrate the principles and practice of the invention are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.
EXAMPLE 1
Synthesis of N2O Reduction Catalysts
A zeolite catalyst was prepared according to the following general procedure. Zeolite Beta powder was prepared via the synthetic procedures disclosed in Example 1 (Batch 1) of commonly owned U.S. Pat. No. 4,961,917 of John W. Byrne, which is expressly incorporated by reference herein. The powder was then ion-exchanged with Fe by dispersing 212.5 g of zeolite Beta powder in a preheated, 70° C. solution consisting of 1000 g of deioinized water and 25.5 g of iron sulfate heptahydrate. The preparation was mixed for 1 hour, after which the zeolite powder was filtered from the solution followed by water washing to remove residual sulfate. The filtered cake was then mixed with deionized water in the proportion 40% zeolite/60% water by weight, and the mixture was placed in a high shear mixer to form a washcoat slurry containing zeolite Fe/Beta with a particle size 90% less than 20 μm. A monolith support of cordierite containing 100 cells per square inch of cross section was dipped into the washcoat slurry. After calcination at 400° C., the support contained 1.5 g of zeolite Fe/Beta/in3.
EXAMPLE 2
Catalytic Decomposition of N2O
The following general procedure was utilized for catalytically converting N2O with ammonia to gaseous nitrogen and water. A core sample of Fe/Beta on 100 CPSI honeycomb was loaded into a 1 inch reactor. A gas stream consisting of varied concentrations of N2O and ammonia, 10% O2, 10% H2O, and balanced with N2 was fed through the catalyst at a flow rate equivalent to 20,000 hour−1 space velocity (“SV”), which is defined as [(gas flow rate at 25° C. (liters/hr))/(catalyst volume (liters))]. The disappearance of both N2O and ammonia across the catalyst were measured by taking gas samples before and after passing over the catalyst. The gas samples were then measured by on-line N2O and ammonia infrared analyzers, such as Sieman N2O (Ultramat 5E) and NH3(Ultramat 5F) analyzers. These conversions were then measured over a temperature range of 250° C. to 450° C. The tests were conducted with varying concentrations of N2O, and ammonia: (a) 200 ppm N2O, 0 ppm ammonia; (b) 200 ppm N2O, 200 ppm ammonia; and (c) 0 ppm N2O, 200 ppm ammonia. As illustrated in FIG. 1, N2O conversion was low (i.e., 10%) at temperatures ranging from 250° C. to 450° C. in the absence of ammonia. With 200 ppm ammoniapresent, N2O conversion increased substantially with increasing temperature. By adding ammonia, N2O conversion increased significantly at temperatures greater than 300° C. These data demonstrate that the presence of ammonia substantially increased the reduction rate of N2O, even at low temperatures (i.e., above 250° C.).
FIG. 2 illustrates the disappearance of ammonia. In the absence of N2O, ammonia conversion was very low, indicating that very little ammonia was oxidized. However, in the presence of N2O, the ammonia disappearance rate increased substantially. Thus, it is apparent that ammonia and N2O mutually enhance the conversion of each other to N2 and H2O over a zeolite-based catalyst.
EXAMPLE 3
Effect of a Zeolite Catalyst on Ammonia-mediated N2O Reduction
In order to ascertain if ammonia-mediated N2O reduction is unique to zeolite catalysts, the procedures described in Example 2 were conducted utilizing two other catalytic compositions, V2O5/TiO2, and Pt/Au. These compositions were obtained as follows:
V2O5/TiO2 
130.8 g of citric acid was mixed with 1000 g of deionized water, and the mixture was heated to 80° C. to dissolve the citric acid. This solution was then combined in a mixing tank with 37.5 g of ammonium metavanadate, followed by an additional 700 g of deionized water. 1425 g of TiO2 powder having a BET surface area of 100 m2/g was added to the solution to obtain a 2% V2O5/TiO2 washcoat slurry. A monolith support of cordierite containing 100 cells per square inch of cross section was dipped into the washcoat slurry. After calcination at 400° C., the support contained 1.5 g of V2O5/TiO2 catalyst powder/in3.
Pt/Au 177 g of gamma alumina powder having a BET surface area of 150 m2/g was ball milled with deionized water and acetic acid to form a 50% solid slurry. The slurry was then placed in a dispersion tank and combined with 0.83 g of Pt equivalent amine-solubilized aqueous platinum hydroxide (H2Pt(OH)6) solution and 0.17 g of Au equivalent aqueous (HAuCl4·3H2O) solution. A monolith support of cordierite containing 100 cells per square inch of cross section was dipped into the washcoat slurry. After calcination at 400° C., the support contained 1.7 g of Al2O3/in3, 40 g of Pt/ft3, and 8 g of Au/ft3.
FIG. 3 illustrates that for the V2O5/TiO2 catalyst, there was very little N2O reduction over the tested temperature range, with or without the presence of ammonia. Unlike the zeolite catalyst, the V2O5/TiO2 catalyst did not show any activity for N2O. FIG. 4 demonstrates that ammonia conversion is not affected by the presence of N2O. In contrast to the zeolite catalyst, the reduction rate of N2O over the V2O5/TiO2 catalyst could not be promoted by injecting ammonia into the gas stream. These results demonstrate that the V2O5/TiO2 catalyst does little to foster the interaction between N2O and ammonia. Also, even though the V2O5/TiO2 catalyst converted some ammonia at temperatures in the 350° C. to 450° C. range, the conversion was not increased when N2O was present in the gas stream. These results show that the mutually enhanced conversion of NH3 and N2O to N2 and H2O is specific to the unique catalytic properties of the zeolite catalyst. It is clear that the combination of ammonia addition and the use of a zeolite-based catalyst is essential to enhance the N2O removal rate.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are graphs on N2O and ammonia conversions, respectively, for a Pt/Au catalyst. As shown in these figures, the Pt based catalyst was not active to decompose N2O, but was very active to oxidize ammonia. When ammonia and N2O are co-present in an oxidizing environment, the N2O conversion could become negative, indicating that some N2O was formed through the ammonia oxidation reaction. Thus, for this catalyst, the presence of ammonia not only fails to enhance N2O conversion, but also negatively affects N2O removal efficiency.
FIG. 7 and 8 are graphs of laboratory results showing the use of zeolite catalysts to achieve reduction for both NOx and N2O gases by introducing ammonia into the gas stream. For this test, the inlet gas contained 815 ppm N2O and 52 ppm NOx. The conversions of N2O and NOx across a Fe/Beta catalyst were measured at 450° C. and 500° C. FIG. 7 shows that with no ammonia, there was no NOx conversion, and the N2O conversions were 30% and 78%, respectively, at 450° C. and 500° C. FIG. 8 shows that by introducing 811 ppm NH3 to the gas stream, both NOx and N2O conversions were increased substantially. For NOx removal, greater than 98% conversion was achieved at both temperatures. For N2O removal, conversion was increased to 80% at 450° C. and 99% at 500° C. These results demonstrate that the zeolite catalyst is very active to promote the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with ammonia to form N2 and water. Additionally, the combination of NH3 and this zeolite catalyst substantially improved the N2O conversion efficiency at the lower temperature.
FIG. 9 is a schematic of the apparatus for the control of N2O gas. In this schematic, ammonia is introduced to a gaseous stream containing N2O at a ratio of about 1:1. This stream is then passed through a zeolite-based catalyst, which promotes the mutually enhanced removal rates of N2O and NH3.
FIG. 10 is a schematic of the apparatus for the simultaneous control of N2O and NOx. In this schematic, the gaseous stream is introduced with sufficient quantity of ammonia. This stream is then passed through a zeolite-based catalyst which promotes the mutually enhanced rates of N2O and ammonia removal, as well as the selective catalytic reduction of NOx.
Having thus described the invention in detail, it will be recognized that such detail need not be strictly adhered to but that various changes and modifications may suggest themselves to one skilled in the art, all falling within the scope of the invention, as defined by the subjoined claims.

## Claims

1. A method for ammonia-mediated N2O and NOx reduction, comprising contacting a gas stream containing N2O and NOx with ammonia and a catalyst comprising a BETA zeolite which is selective for the simultaneous reduction of N2O and NOx, wherein the gas stream containing ammonia, nitrous oxide and NOx has a temperature of greater than about 250° C.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the gas stream has a temperature of from about 350° C. to about 600° C.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ammonia/N2O concentration ratio is up to about 2.0 based on the total volume of the gas stream.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ammonia/N2O concentration ratio is at least about 0.5 based on the total volume of the gas stream.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the ammonia/N2O concentration ratio is from about 0.8 to about 1.0 based on the total volume of the gas stream.

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the zeolite is ion-exchanged with at least one type of ion selected from the group consisting of Fe, Cu, Co, Ce, Pt, Rh, Pd, Ir, Mg and combinations thereof.

7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the zeolite is ion-exchanged with at least one type of ion selected from the group consisting of Fe, Ce, Cu, Co and combinations thereof.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the N2O concentration of the gas stream is about 1% or less.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the N2O concentration of the gas stream is about 5,000 ppm or less.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the N2O concentration of the gas stream is between about 20 ppm and about 5,000 ppm.