During the conversion process, the effectiveness of zeolite is degraded. Rate equation analysis based on energy principles will be used to determine the mechanism, which makes ZMS-5 effective. Decomposition of NO to nitrogen is a very active topic of current research especially at Shell Chemicals and California Institute of Technology. One of the primary goals of this research is to numerically produce the general trends as observed by experimental studies carried by Iwamoto, specifically look at the gas concentration as a function of time and temperature.
Zeolites are porous silicate and aluminum atoms.
A zeolite synthesized as ZMS-5 is of special interest. This zeolite has unique ion-exchange and catalytic properties. This is a natural zeolite, and there are deposits in Arizona among other states. A substantial amount of research is being done using zeolites as catalysts for NO x reduction. Researchers at Shell Chemicals have developed a method by using sonic vibrations to create thin zeolite sheets.