Removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by activated carbon nanocatalyst impregnated with transition metals

Activated carbon (AC) possessing a large number of micropores and a high surface area is relatively potential material for catalyst supports. In this study AC-supported transition metal catalysts(Cu and Ni) were prepared by impregnation method to remove VOC. The properties of catalysts were characterized by BET and SEM. Transition metals content in the catalysts was 3 wt%. All catalytic activities were measured at 200 oC in a fixed bed catalytic reactor. The concentration of VOC (Toluene) at the inlet and outlet of the reactor was monitored by gas chromatograph (GC). These invistigations indicated that AC impregnated with transition metal catalysts had the potentioal to remove VOC, Ni/AC being found to have higher activity. It is found the activity of these catalysts does not depend to specific surface area.

Keywords:

Activated carbon , catalyst supports , transition metal , VOC removal , gas chromatograph