CATALYST AND PROCESS FOR THE CONVERSION OF NITROUS OXIDE

1 - 27 . (canceled)

28 . A method for making a catalyst composition comprising:

(i) providing a solution of zirconium chloride;

(ii) adding to the solution of zirconium chloride a source of at least one of the following: Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, W, Ti, Al, Si, Ge, or Sn;

(iii) adding to the product of (ii) a solution of ammonium hydroxide or sodium hydroxide under conditions sufficient to produce a solution of zirconium hydroxide;

(iv) maintaining the solution of zirconium hydroxide at an elevated temperature for a time sufficient to produce a precipitated zirconium hydroxide;

(v) substantially removing Cl − ions from the precipitated zirconium hydroxide;

(vi) drying the zirconium hydroxide;

(vii) calcining the zirconium hydroxide to produce zirconium oxide;

(viii) preparing an aqueous solution of zirconium oxide;

(ix) adding to the aqueous solution of zirconium oxide an aqueous solution of a source of nickel, an aqueous solution of a source of cobalt or a combination thereof;

(x) removing liquid from the product of (ix) to produce a wet catalyst composition;

(xi) drying the wet catalyst composition;

(xii) calcining the dried catalyst composition to produce the catalyst composition.

29 . The method of claim 28 wherein the catalyst composition has surface area of about 1 to about 200 m 2 /g after exposure to a calcination temperature of between about 400° C. and about 900° C.

30 . The method of claim 28 wherein the catalyst composition has surface area of about 5 to about 100 m 2 /g after exposure to a calcination temperature of between about 400° C. and about 900° C.

31 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the catalyst so-formed has a deactivation rate constant for decomposition of N 2 O at 800° C. of less than 8×10 −4 hr −1 , and a deactivation rate constant based on surface area of less than 0.03 day −1 at 900° C.

32 . The method of claim 28 , wherein the catalyst so-formed has a deactivation rate constant for decomposition of N 2 O at 800° C. of less than 4×10 −4 hr −1 , and a deactivation rate constant based on surface area of less than 0.01 day −1 at 900° C.

33 - 39 . (canceled)

40 . A process for making a doped catalyst substrate, comprising:

(a) co-precipitating zirconium hydroxide and a dopant selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, W, Ti, Al, Si, Ge, Sn and mixtures thereof; and

(b) calcining the precipitate to produce a doped zirconium oxide catalyst substrate.

41 . The process of claim 40 , further comprising dissolving zirconium chloride in an aqueous ammonium hydroxide solution to form zirconium hydroxide solution.

42 . The process of claim 41 , further comprising adding an aqueous solution of one or more nitrate salts of said dopant to said zirconium hydroxide solution.

43 . The process of claim 42 , further comprising maintaining the solution of zirconium hydroxide and said dopant nitrate at a temperature and for a time sufficient to co-precipitate doped zirconium hydroxide.

44 . The process of claim 40 , wherein the doped zirconium hydroxide precipitate is calcined at a temperature of about 650° C. for a time sufficient to convert said doped zirconium hydroxide to zirconium oxide to form said doped catalyst substrate.

45 . The process of claim 40 , wherein the dopant is present in said catalyst substrate at a concentration of between about 1 and about 10 wt %.

46 . The process of claim 45 , wherein the dopant is present in said catalyst substrate at a concentration of between about 2 and about 5 wt %.

47 . The process of claim 40 , wherein the dopant is present in solid solution with said catalyst substrate.

48 . A process for making a catalyst composition comprising:

(a) co-precipitating zirconium hydroxide and a dopant selected from the group consisting of Ca, Sr, Y, La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Th, Dy, W, Ti, Al, Si, Ge, Sn and mixtures thereof;

(b) calcining the precipitate to produce a doped zirconium oxide catalyst substrate, wherein said dopant is in solid solution with said zirconium oxide;

(c) combining said doped zirconium oxide substrate in aqueous solution with a nickel source, a cobalt source, or a combination thereof;

(d) removing liquid from the product of (c); and

(e) calcining the product of (d) to produce the catalyst composition.

49 . The process of claim 48 , further comprising mixing said doped zirconium oxide catalyst substrate with water prior to step (c).

50 . The process of claim 48 , wherein said aqueous solution is maintained for about three hours with occasional stirring.

51 . The process of claim 48 , wherein the nickel and/or cobalt source is a nitrate salt, and is present in said aqueous solution at a concentration sufficient to incorporate said nickel and/or cobalt onto said substrate at a concentration of between about 0.5 to about 10 wt % in the form of nickel oxide and/or cobalt oxide, after calcination step (e).

52 . A catalyst formed by the process according to claim 48 .