Description
Metallic nanoparticles or their oxides play an important role in catalysis, optical or biomedical applications. This has led scientists to explore new supports, which will increase the degree of their dispersion and availability. The promising group of materials used as a support are the ones derived from nano-modified clay minerals. The objective of this project is the development of a new generation TMO-based supported catalysts for removal of VOC, the major pollutants of the atmosphere. In our project we would like to focus on the functionalization of the lattice of the porous silica materials based on clay minerals via direct site selected incorporation of heteroatoms.removal of VOCs from the waste gases.
Summary of project results
Cleaning of industrial flue gases form volatile pollutants is still a problem of major importance. Their neutralization in non-catalytic process required heating of huge air masses to the temperatures above 1273 K, which requires large energy inputs. Moreover high temperature combustion entails formation of secondary environmental pollutants: NOx and dioxin-like compounds. Therefore the efforts on the protection of environment by conversion of VOCs into relatively harmless compounds are made. One way for low temperature removal of volatile organic compounds is their catalytic conversion to non-toxic products by total oxidation with application of the catalyst designed in the project. The aim of the project was design and synthesis of the catalysts obtained by functionalization of the PCH composite support derived from clay mineral active in low temperature combustion of VOC. Selected catalysts exhibited very high activity already at 300oC. Synthesised materials with 100% activity decompose VOC - toxic, carcinogenic compounds into CO2 and water without prior accumulation as mixed CuMn oxides. The outcome of the project was design, optimisation and elaboration of the method of catalysts synthesis for VOC combustion which were fully achieved. All the actions were taken by the project implementation beneficiary. Design and synthesis of the catalysts, determination of physicochemical and catalytic properties were carried out in the Jerzy Haber Institute of Catalysis and Surface Chemistry PAS. Scientists and engineers were engaged for the project completion (e.g. XRD, SEM, XPS, FTIR, MS methods). Synthesized materials have a high potential for application in VOC removal that can be used in many branches of industry. Results of this project show that specificity of structural, textural and surface redox/acid–base properties of Fe-PCH catalysts render this material very attractive from the point of view of potential applications in catalysis.
Summary of bilateral results