Alumina binders for SCR catalysts

1. A catalytic article, comprising:

a. a honeycomb substrate;

b. a catalyst washcoat disposed on and/or within the substrate, wherein the catalyst washcoat comprises (i) an aluminosilicate molecular sieve having at least one of a beta (BEA) and chabazite (CHA) 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.

2. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein the catalytic article, upon hydrothermal aging, provides higher NO x conversion than a comparable article having a silica binder.

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

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

5. 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.

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

7. 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.

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

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

10. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said aluminosilicate molecular sieve has a BEA framework.

11. The catalytic article of claim 10 , wherein said base metal is iron.

12. The catalytic article of claim 11 , wherein said BEA is isomorphic BEA.

13. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said washcoat comprises a blend of a molecular sieve having a CHA framework and a molecular sieve having a BEA framework.

14. The catalytic article of claim 13 , wherein said molecular sieve having a CHA framework comprises copper and said molecular sieve having a BEA framework comprises iron.

15. The catalytic article of claim 14 , wherein said blend is essentially homogeneous with respect to the molecular sieve having a CHA framework and the molecular sieve having a BEA framework.

16. The catalytic article of claim 15 , wherein said blend comprises a majority of said molecular sieve having a CHA framework relative to the molecular sieve having a BEA framework.

17. The catalytic article of claim 16 , wherein said blend comprises said molecular sieve having a CHA framework and the molecular sieve having a BEA framework are present in a ratio of about 1.5:1 to about 10:1.

18. The catalytic article of claim 17 , wherein said blend comprises said molecular sieve having a CHA framework and the molecular sieve having a BEA framework are present in a ratio of about 2:1 to about 4:1.

19. The catalytic article of claim 1 , wherein said substrate is a flow-through monolith or a wall-flow monolith.

20. A method of making a catalytic article for treating an exhaust gas comprising the steps of:

a. providing a washcoat comprising:

i. a catalyst comprising at least one aluminosilicate molecular sieve having at least one of a beta (BEA) and chabazite (CHA) 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;

b. applying the washcoat to a plurality of channels of a substrate; and

c. drying the washcoat applied to the substrate such that the catalyst is fixed to the substrate.