Suppression of sulfur trioxide formation in a monolithic catalytic converter for cars due to oscillating reaction conditions

Abstract

The net formation of sulfur trioxide in the presence of an excess of carbon monoxide with respect to sulfur dioxide was studied under different reaction conditions in a single element of a commercial monolithic Pt, Rh converter. Conditions giving rise to self-oscillations were found to result in a complete oxidation of carbon monoxide and in only a 10% net conversion of sulfur dioxide.