Description: 

The purpose of this project is to develop and demonstrate the methods and techniques necessary to successfully engage small and medium sized companies within a complex auto supplier network in a comprehensive program of continuous improvement focused on reducing wastes through pollution prevention. This project will focus on lower tier automotive suppliers in SIC Code 34 and 35 in the northern Ohio area. The project will be implemented through three distinct phases: 1) targeting (identifying the supply chains), 2) outreach (securing company participation), and 3) supplier chain analysis (technical assistance, implementation assistance, and identification of synergism within the supply chain). The integrated Energy, Environment and Manufacturing waste reduction methodology will be used for the on-site assessments.

Upon the successful completion of this project, the methods and techniques developed by this project could serve as a model for members of the NIST Manufacturing Extension Partnership (MEP) and other technical assistance providers to work with companies within the automotive supply chain or to engage other supply chains. Similarly, this project might serve as a model for the Big Three automakers or major first tier auto suppliers, themselves, to engage their supply chains directly in a comparable program.

back to top

The objectives of this project include: (1) determination of the reactivities of various types of adsorbed NO and CO and their reaction pathways under various conditions for catalytic nitric oxide reduction, and (2) investigation of the feasibility of using silane to enclose the metal particle in order to inhibit sintering of the catalyst at high operating temperatures. The experimental plan consists of: (1) preparation and characterization of Rh, Ce-Rh, Pd, Cu-ZSM-5, and Co-ZSM-5 catalysts, (2) investigation of reaction dynamics, (3) catalyst modification by silanation, and (4) evaluation of catalyst deactivation characteristics in the presence of O2, SO2, and H2O. The experimental approach for reaction and silanation studies involves use of in situ infrared spectroscopy and mass spectroscopy to simultaneously determine dynamics of adsorbates as well as gaseous reactant and product concentration during NO reduction and silanation of catalysts. Results of the reactivity study will allow identification of the most active form of adsorbed CO and NO for the reaction and the sites to which these species adsorb. This knowledge is required for the design of catalyst preparation methods to populate the most active form of the sites on the catalyst surface. Successful development of the silanation approach could provide new ways to inhibit sintering of not only NO reduction catalysts but also numerous supported metal catalysts of industrial significance.

back to top

Investigator: Farhang Akbar-Khan Zadeh
Institution: Medical College of Ohio
EPA Project Officer: Not Available
Project Period:  1998
Project Amount: $902870
Project Duration: 1 year

Research Category: Not Available

back to top

Back