Bimetallic Ag-Au/Al2O3 catalyst was synthesised by successive impregnation of 1% Au and 1% Ag on in-house prepared high surface area alumina (450 m(2)/g). The corresponding monometallic catalysts were also prepared by loading 1% Ag or 1% Au on the same high surface area alumina for comparison. The catalysts were characterised by various physico-chemical techniques and tested for SCR activity under lean burn engine exhaust conditions. Ag-Au/Al2O3 catalyst prepared by successive impregnation method showed considerably higher NO reduction (100%) to N-2 compared to 1% Au/Al2O3 (70%) whereas the activity was comparable with that of 1% Ag/Al2O3 (96%). The effect of various pretreatments on SCR activity of Ag-Au/Al2O3 was studied and pretreatment at 250 degrees C in flow of hydrogen was found to give the best results with 100% NO conversion to N-2 at 353 degrees C. Further ageing of the catalyst under reaction feed at 500 degrees C resulted in considerable increase in low temperature activity of bimetallic catalyst with similar to 40% NO conversion at 222 degrees C. Even though the SCR activity of pretreated Ag-Au/Al2O3 and Ag/Al2O3 were comparable, after ageing the Ag-Au/Al2O3 showed significantly higher NO conversion (95%) compared to Ag/Al2O3 (83%) and Au/Al2O3 (70%). The formation of H-2 and CO due to steam reforming of higher hydrocarbon (decane) was evidenced at the temperature of highest deNO(x) activity. Detailed investigation of the textural properties of the pretreated and aged catalysts showed presence of well dispersed metallic Au and Ag-n(delta+) clusters after pretreatment in hydrogen at 250 degrees C. (C) 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

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