Research Progress on Sulfur Deactivation and Regeneration over Cu-CHA Zeolite Catalyst

Benefiting from the exceptional selective catalytic reduction of NOx with ammonia (NH3-SCR) activity, excellent N2 selectivity, and superior hydrothermal durability, the Cu2+-exchanged zeolite catalyst with a chabazite structure (Cu-CHA) has been considered the predominant SCR catalyst in nitrogen oxide (NOx) abatement. However, sulfur poisoning remains one of the most significant deterrents to the catalyst in real applications. This review summarizes the NH3-SCR reaction mechanism on Cu-CHA, including the active sites and the nature of hydrothermal aging resistance. On the basis of the NH3-SCR reaction mechanism, the review gives a comprehensive summary of sulfate species, sulfate loading, emitted gaseous composition, and the impact of exposure temperature/time on Cu-CHA. The nature of the regeneration of sulfated catalysts is also covered in this review. The review gives a valuable summary of new insights into the matching between the design of NH3-SCR activity and sulfur resistance, highlighting the opportunities and challenges presented by Cu-CHA. Guidance for future sulfur poisoning diagnosis, effective regeneration strategies, and a design for an efficient catalyst for the aftertreatment system (ATS) are proposed to minimize the deterioration of NOx abatement in the future. Finally, we call for more attention to be paid to the effects of PO43- and metal co-cations with sulfur in the ATS.