Abstract The aim of this thesis project was to gain new knowledge on the effect of phosphorus on the catalytic activity and characteristics of automotive exhaust gas catalyst components. The simultaneous roles of phosphorus and calcium were also studied. The first test series of powdery catalyst samples contained Rh and oxide (Test series 1) and the second, Pt and oxide or ZSM-5 (Test series 2). The catalysts were analyzed when fresh and after two ageing and phosphorus poisoning procedures developed in this work. The procedures consisted of adding poison via impregnation in an aqueous solution (for Test series 1) and in the gaseous phase under hydrothermal conditions (for Test series 2). The poison compounds formed and the changes in the washcoat were studied by using physisorption analyses, SEM, TEM, XRD, and FTIR-ATR. The poison content of the samples was determined by ICP-OES and XRF. Laboratory-scale activity measurements were done to investigate the catalytic activity. Thermodynamic calculations were used to obtain information about ageing conditions and phosphorus compounds formed during ageing. Phosphorus decreased the catalytic activity and the characteristic surface areas of the catalysts. Addition of calcium to a phosphorus-poisoned catalyst was found to have even a regenerating effect on the catalysts' activity. The poisoning methods developed in this study resulted in the same phosphorus compounds as can be found in vehicle-aged catalysts. Phosphorus was identified as cerium, zirconium, aluminium, and titanium phosphates. Phosphorus was detected in zeolites, but phosphorus-containing compounds were not observed. Phosphorus poisoning takes place in the gas phase at high operating temperatures and with high oxygen and water contents. It was also shown that the role of phosphorus poisoning was more pronounced than the role of hydrothermal ageing alone. Phosphorus poisoning mainly affects the oxide components used in this study, not the noble metals. The results can be utilized in the development of catalytic materials and catalyst compositions that can better tolerate phosphorus poisoning under hydrothermal conditions. The results can also be applied in evaluating the effects of phosphorus on different catalyst compositions and in estimating the age of commercial catalysts.

Detta projekt behandlar metodutveckling för att modellera en trevägskatalysator som skulle kunna användas vidare för att uppskatta utsläppen från en Ottomotor. Modellen är byggd i AVL Cruise M för att bestämma omvandlingarna för de tre lagstiftade föroreningarna kolmonoxid, kväveoxider (NOx) och metan baserat på reaktioner som sker i trevägskatalysatorer. Projektet tar också upp olika experimentella metoder och specifika kalibreringsmetoder som används för att samla in data och bygga modellen. Projektet diskuterar två olika kalibreringsprocesser baserade på insamlade experimentella data och antalet reaktioner kalibrerade i varje steg. Dessutom diskuteras programvaran som används och ändringarna som gjorts i den fördefinierade modellen av programvaran. Resultatet efter kalibreringen visade att den andra kalibreringsprocessen gav bättre resultat, men vissa avvikelser observerades i den byggda modellen. Avvikelserna antas bero på följande tre anledningar. För det första, försummar ytreaktionsmodellen föroreningarnas diffusionshastigheter. Dessutom kan komplexiteten hos objektfunktionen som matas in i optimeraren samt de stationära data som används för kalibreringsändamål också ge avvikelser. Dessa tre argument testas i projektet och slutsatserna som dras för att kunna förbättra modellen är följande.  Objektfunktionen behöver förenklas så mycket som möjligt, diffusion av föroreningar genom washcoaten kan inkluderas i olika komplicerade steg och syrelagringsreaktioner blir viktiga när man tar hänsyn till transienta förhållanden. / This project discusses about development of a method to model the three-way catalyst which could be used further to estimate the emissions from an Otto engine. The model is built in the commercial software called AVL Cruise M to determine the conversions of three legislative pollutants namely, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide and methane based on reactions occurring within the three-way catalyst. The project also discusses about different experimental and calibration methods used for collecting the data and building the model. The project discusses two different calibration process based on the experimental data used and number of reactions calibrated on each step. Furthermore, the software used, and the modifications made in the predefined model of the software are also discussed. The result after the calibration showed that the second calibration process gave better results, but some deviations were observed in the model built. The deviations are assumed to be because of three arguments present. Firstly, considering the surface reaction model which neglects the diffusion rates of the species. Secondly, the complexity of the objective function fed into the optimiser. The optimiser is also a software by AVL named design explorer which helps to optimise the parameters. And thirdly, the use of steady state data only and not including transient conditions for the calibration purposes. These arguments are tested in the project, and it is concluded to improve the model, the objective function needs to be simplified as much as possible, diffusion of species through washcoat could be considered at advance stages and oxygen storage reactions become important when transient conditions are taken into consideration.