Catalytic oxidation of VOCs using lanthanum, nickel and lanthanum-nickel oxides

• Type: Chapter or Part of a Book
• Date: 2013

Authors

X. Chen (Author) FEUP; S. A. C. Carabineiro (Author) FEUP; P. B. Tavares (Author) Other; J. J. M. Orfão (Author) FEUP; M. F. R. Pereira (Author) FEUP; J. L. Figueiredo (Author) FEUP

Book

Title: New Developments in Metal Oxides Research

Pages: 183-195

ISBN: 978-1-62808-148-0

Indexing

ISI Web of Science

Scopus - 0 Citations

Scientific classification

FOS: Engineering and technology > Chemical engineering

CORDIS: Technological sciences > Engineering > Chemical engineering

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00A-40M

Abstract (EN): Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are harmful environmental pollutants originated from stationary and mobile sources, such as painting, printing, petroleum refineries, fuel storage and motor vehicles. As some VOCs are dangerous to human health and to the environment, their emissions are regulated. Catalytic oxidation to CO2 and water is an environmentally friendly technology for VOC abatement. It requires low temperatures (around 250-500 °C) and causes less NOx formation, compared to conventional thermal oxidation, which requires high operation temperatures (650-1100 °C). Metal oxides can be used as heterogeneous catalysts for VOC oxidation. Commonly used catalysts include manganese, copper, nickeland iron oxides. It has been reported that although metal oxide based catalysts are less active than supported precious metals in oxidizing VOC streams, they are generally more resistant to poisoning phenomena. However, mixed oxides can show good activities in catalytic oxidation of VOCs, thus being good candidates for this application. In this work, single oxides of lanthanum and nickel were used. Mixed oxide samples of La-Ni-O synthesized by an evaporation method, with La-Ni ratios of 1:1 and 1:2 were also evaluated. Catalyst samples were characterised by N2 adsorption at -196 °C, temperature programmed reduction, scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction. The materials were tested in the oxidation of ethyl acetate, a compound widely used as a solvent in printing operations, glues, nail polish removers, etc. It was found that the mixed oxide was much more active that the single oxide catalysts, allowing 100 % conversion of the VOC into CO2 at ~250 °C, with no formation of CO. Full conversion was not achieved by any of the single oxides, and CO was detected. The La:Ni 1:2 sample was more active than the 1:1 analogue. The 1:2 mixed oxide had a much larger surface area and also easier reducibility than the 1:1 sample. Both mixed oxides had larger surface area and higher reducibility than the single components, which can explain their improved performance.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

Notes: Eds. I. Nagy, A. Balogh, Nova Science Pub Inc., Chapter 5, (ISBN-978-1-62808-148-0)

No. of pages: 12