Oxidation catalyst for a diesel engine exhaust

1. An oxidation catalyst for treating an exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine comprising a first catalytic region, a second catalytic region, and a substrate,

wherein the first catalytic region comprises a catalytic material comprising: a copper (Cu) component; a combination of platinum (Pt) and palladium (Pd) and the ratio by weight of platinum to palladium is ≥4:1; and a support material, comprising alumina; wherein the platinum group metal (PGM) and the copper (Cu) component is each supported on the support material,

wherein the second catalytic region comprising at least one of a Passive NOx Absorber, a Lean NOx Trap, and a Hydrocarbon and NO oxidation catalyst,

and at least one of:

(a) the first catalytic region is a first catalytic layer and the second catalytic region is a second catalytic layer, and the first catalytic layer is disposed on the second catalytic layer;

(b) the first catalytic region is a first catalytic layer and the second catalytic region is a second catalytic layer, and the second catalytic layer is disposed on the first catalytic layer;

(c) the first catalytic region is a first catalytic zone and the second catalytic region is a second catalytic zone, and wherein the first catalytic zone is disposed upstream of the second catalytic zone;

(d) the first catalytic region is a first catalytic zone and the second catalytic region is a second catalytic zone, and the second catalytic zone is disposed upstream of the first catalytic zone.

2. An oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the refractory oxide comprises a mixed or composite oxide comprising alumina, which is selected from the group consisting of silica-alumina, ceria-alumina, titania-alumina, zirconia-alumina and alumina-magnesium oxide.

3. An oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the refractory oxide is alumina, silica-alumina or alumina doped with silica.

4. An oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the first catalytic region comprises copper in an amount of 0.1 to 15.0% by weight, a total loading of copper of 1 to 250 g ft −3 , and a platinum group metal (PGM) to copper (Cu) weight ratio of 10:1 to 1:10.

5. An oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the ratio by weight of platinum to palladium is ≥10:1.

6. An oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the catalytic region further comprises a zeolite for adsorbing hydrocarbons.

7. An oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the second catalytic region, comprises palladium and a noble metal selected from platinum and rhodium in a mass ratio of Pd:Pt or Pd:Rh of >1:1, and a molecular sieve, wherein the molecular sieve contains the noble metal.

8. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 7 , wherein the second catalytic region is substantially free of base metals.

9. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 7 , wherein the second catalytic region is substantially free of alkaline earth metals.

10. An oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the substrate is a flow-through monolith or a filtering monolith.

11. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the second catalytic region comprises at least one of an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, and a rare earth metal, wherein the alkali metal, alkaline earth metal, and rare earth metal are present in elemental form or as an oxide, carbonate, or hydroxide.

12. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 11 , wherein the second catalytic region comprises barium as an oxide, carbonate, or hydroxide, and cerium as oxide, carbonate, or hydroxide.

13. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 11 , wherein the at least one of alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, and a rare earth metal is disposed on a support comprising a magnesium oxide and an aluminum oxide.

14. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 1 , wherein the second catalytic region comprises platinum and is essentially free of palladium.

15. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 14 , wherein the second catalytic region further comprises manganese present in a Mn:Pt weight ratio of <5:1 and >0.2:1.

16. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 14 , wherein the second catalytic region is substantially free of zeolites.

17. The oxidation catalyst according to claim 14 , wherein the second catalytic region is substantially free of cerium.

18. An exhaust system for treating an exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine, wherein the exhaust system comprises the oxidation catalyst of claim 1 .

19. A vehicle comprising a diesel engine and an exhaust system according to claim 18 .

20. A method of treating an exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine, wherein the method comprises the step of passing an exhaust gas produced by a diesel engine through an exhaust system comprising the oxidation catalyst of claim 1 .