Selective catalytic reduction of NOx by H2 in the presence of oxygen has been investigated over Pt/Al2O3 catalysts pre-treated under different conditions. Catalyst preparation conditions exert significant influence on the catalytic performance, and the catalyst pre-treated by H2 or H2 then followed by O2 is much more active than that pre-treated by air. The higher surface area and the presence of metallic Pt over Pt/Al2O3 pre-treated by H2 or pretreated by H2 then followed by O2 can contribute to the formation of NO2, which then promotes the reaction to proceed at low temperatures.
