The most important finding of the present contribution
is that a correlation exists between the absorption
intensity of adsorbed NO on oligonuclear ferrous
Fe2þ
x Oy clusters in the BEA zeolite at 1874 cm)1, and
the activity of the catalysts in N2O decomposition. This
correlation was obtained by adjusting preparation
variables. An optimal iron loading for N2O decomposition
of 0.8 wt% Fe was found, with no significant
influence of the used Fe-precursor. Activation of the
ion-exchanged catalysts in inert yields significantly
better performance than activation in air. The observed
relationship can be used as a reliable and fast assessment
of catalyst performance for Fe-BEA zeolites in direct
N2O decomposition