Alumina binders for SCR catalysts

1. A catalytic article:

a. a honeycomb substrate;

b. a catalyst washcoat disposed on and/or within the substrate, wherein the catalyst washcoat comprises (i) an aluminosilicates molecular sieve having an AEI framework and about 1 to about 10 weight percent of at least one base metal component selected from iron and copper, wherein said weight percent is based on the weight of the aluminosilicate molecular sieve; and (ii) about 1 to about 30 weight percent of a binder consisting essentially of alumina, wherein said weight percent is based on the weight of the aluminosilicate molecular sieve,

wherein the catalytic article has been hydrothermally aged, and upon hydrothermal aging, the catalytic article provides higher NOx conversion than a comparable article having a silica binder.

2. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said alumina is γ-alumina.

3. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said alumina is derived from boehmite.

4. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said alumina in said washcoat has a mean disperse particle size of about 60 to about 120 nm.

5. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said alumina in said washcoat has a mean crystallite size of about 5 to about 15 nm.

6. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said alumina binder in said washcoat is present in an amount of about 10 to about 20 weight percent based on the weight of the aluminosilicate molecular sieve.

7. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said aluminosilicate molecular sieve has a silica-to-alumina ratio of about 15 to about 250.

8. The catalytic article of claim 7 , wherein said base metal is copper.

9. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said honeycomb substrate is a flow-through monolith.

10. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said honeycomb substrate is a wall-flow filter.