Abstract
This research work aims to study the performance of biochar-supported manganese-based catalysts for conversion of NOx in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process. Biochar, a high energy density solid generated from biomass pyrolysis, usually is combusted to provide extra heat to the pyrolysis process. Compared to other carbonaceous materials, biochar has a larger surface area, large surface functional groups and is more economically advantageous. An experimental and observational methodology was adopted in which biochar with activation temperatures of 500 °C, 600 °C, and 700 °C were used as additional catalytic support to the Manganese-based SCR catalyst. The prepared samples were analyzed by various techniques like X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, NH3-Temperature-programmed desorption and H2-Temperature programmed reduction to study various parameters like crystallographic structure and crystal properties, chemical states and elemental composition, surface acidity, and reducibility of the catalyst. Upon adding biochar, it was observed that the pore volume increased by 150% and the surface area by 114%. Subsequently, catalytic activity tests were conducted on the effect of biochar on NOx removal, SO2, and H2O tolerance, and the optimum catalyst composition were found. Catalytic performance increases with the addition of biochar over all temperature ranges, with Mn/TiO2-Char700 reaching a maximum NOx conversion rate of 90%, indicating that biochar is a viable alternative to existing catalytic supports.
Graphical Abstract
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
Abbreviations
- Al2O3 :
-
Aluminium oxide
- BET:
-
Brunauer–Emmett–teller
- CO2 :
-
Carbon-dioxide
- CrOx :
-
Chromium oxide
- Cu:
-
Copper
- eV:
-
Electron volt
- FeOx :
-
Iron oxide
- H2 :
-
Hydrogen gas
- Mn:
-
Manganese
- MnOx:
-
Manganese oxide
- MoO3 :
-
Molybdenum trioxide
- N2 :
-
Nitrogen gas
- N2O:
-
Nitrous oxide
- NaY:
-
Sodium yttrium
- NH3 :
-
Ammonia
- NH4 + :
-
Ammonium ion
- NO:
-
Nitric oxide
- Oα :
-
Lattice oxygen
- Oβ :
-
Chemisorbed oxygen
- SCR:
-
Selective catalytic reduction
- SEM:
-
Scanning electron microscope
- SO2 :
-
Sulphur dioxide
- TiO2 :
-
Titanium dioxide
- TPD:
-
Temperature programmed desorption
- TPR:
-
Temperature programmed reduction
- V2O5 :
-
Vanadium pentoxide
- VOx :
-
Vanadium oxide
- WO3 :
-
Tungsten trioxide
- XPS:
-
X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
- XRD:
-
X-ray diffraction
References
Atchudan R, Jebakumar Immanuel Edison TN, Perumal S et al (2017) Effective photocatalytic degradation of anthropogenic dyes using graphene oxide grafting titanium dioxide nanoparticles under UV-light irradiation. J Photochem Photobiol A Chem 333:92–104. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jphotochem.2016.10.021
Atchudan R, Edison TNJI, Perumal S et al (2018) In-situ green synthesis of nitrogen-doped carbon dots for bioimaging and TiO2 nanoparticles@nitrogen-doped carbon composite for photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants. J Alloys Compd 766:12–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jallcom.2018.06.272
Bentrup U, Bruckner A, Richter M, Fricke R (2001) NOx adsorption on MnO2/NaY composite: an in situ FTIR and EPR study. Appl Catal B Environ 32:229–241. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-3373(01)00142-4
Chen JP, Yang RT, Buzanowski MA, Cichanowicz JE (1990) Cold selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide for flue gas applications. Ind Eng Chem Res 29:1431–1435. https://doi.org/10.1021/ie00103a049
Chen L, Si Z, Wu X et al (2015) Effect of water vapor on NH3–NO/NO2 SCR performance of fresh and aged MnOx–NbOx–CeO2 catalysts. J Environ Sci 31:240–247. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jes.2014.07.037
Gao F, Tang X, Yi H et al (2017) A review on selective catalytic reduction of NOx by NH3 over Mn–based catalysts at low temperatures: catalysts, mechanisms. Kinet DFT Calc Catalyst 7:199. https://doi.org/10.3390/catal7070199
Gaskin J, Steiner C, Harris K et al (2008) Effect of low-temperature pyrolysis conditions on biochar for agricultural use. Trans Asabe 51:2061–2069. https://doi.org/10.13031/2013.25409
Gurbuz H (2018) The effect of H2 purity on the combustion, performance, emissions. Energy Costs Therm Sci 24:315
Gürbüz H, Akçay H, Aldemir M et al (2021) The effect of euro diesel-hydrogen dual fuel combustion on performance and environmental-economic indicators in a small UAV turbojet engine. Fuel 306:121735. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2021.121735
Jandačka J, Holubčík M (2020) Emissions production from small heat sources depending on various aspects. Mob Networks Appl 25:904–912. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11036-020-01519-1
Kijlstra WS, Brands DS, Smit HI et al (1997) Mechanism of the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3over MnOx/Al2O3. J Catal 171:219–230. https://doi.org/10.1006/jcat.1997.1789
Kloss S, Zehetner F, Dellantonio A et al (2012) Characterization of slow pyrolysis biochars: effects of feedstocks and pyrolysis temperature on biochar properties. J Environ Qual 41:990–1000. https://doi.org/10.2134/jeq2011.0070
Laird D, Brown R, Amonette J, Lehmann J (2009) Review of the pyrolysis platform for coproducing bio-oil and biochar. Biofuel Bioprod Biorefin 3:547–562. https://doi.org/10.1002/bbb.169
Li J, Chen J, Ke R et al (2007) Effects of precursors on the surface Mn species and the activities for NO reduction over MnOx/TiO2 catalysts. Catal Commun 8:1896–1900. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catcom.2007.03.007
Li Q, Yang H, Qiu F, Zhang X (2011) Promotional effects of carbon nanotubes on V2O5/TiO2 for NOx removal. J Hazard Mater 192:915–921. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2011.05.101
Liu F, He H (2010) Structure—activity relationship of iron titanate catalysts in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3. J Phys Chem C 114:16929–16936
Liu L, Wang B, Yao X et al (2021) Highly efficient MnOx/biochar catalysts obtained by air oxidation for low-temperature NH3-SCR of NO. Fuel 283:119336. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2020.119336
Maroušek J, Kolář L, Strunecký O et al (2020a) Modified biochars present an economic challenge to phosphate management in wastewater treatment plants. J Clean Prod 272:123015. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123015
Maroušek J, Maroušková A, Kůs T (2020b) Shower cooler reduces pollutants release in production of competitive cement substitute at low cost. Energy Sourc Part A Recov Util Environ Eff. https://doi.org/10.1080/15567036.2020.1825560
Muñiz J, Marbán G, Fuertes AB (2000) Low temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO over modified activated carbon fibres. Appl Catal B Environ 27:27–36. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0926-3373(00)00134-X
Pan S, Luo H, Li L et al (2013) H2O and SO2 deactivation mechanism of MnOx/MWCNTs for low-temperature SCR of NOx with NH3. J Mol Catal A Chem 377:154–161. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.molcata.2013.05.009
Raja S, Alphin MS (2020a) Systematic effects of Fe doping on the activity of V2O5/TiO2-carbon nanotube catalyst for NH3-SCR of NOx. J Nanoparticle Res 22:190. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-04919-2
Raja S, Alphin MS (2020b) Low temperature selective catalytic reduction of NOx by NH3 over Cu modified V2O5/TiO2–carbon nanotube catalyst. React Kinet Mech Catal 129:787–804. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11144-020-01735-6
Raja S, Alphin MS, Sivachandiran L (2020) Promotional effects of modified TiO2- and carbon-supported V2O5- and MnOx-based catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NOx: a review. Catal Sci Technol 10:7795–7813. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CY01348J
Selvam R, Masilamany A (2020) Systematic effects of Fe doping on the activity of V2O5/TiO2-carbon nanotube catalyst for NH3-SCR of NOx. J Nanoparticle Res. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11051-020-04919-2
Selvam R, Masilamany A, Loganathan S (2020) Promotional effects of modified TiO2 and Carbon supported V2O5 and MnOx based catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NOx: a review. Catal Sci Technol. https://doi.org/10.1039/D0CY01348J
Shen B, Chen J, Yue S, Li G (2015) A comparative study of modified cotton biochar and activated carbon based catalysts in low temperature SCR. Fuel 156:47–53. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fuel.2015.04.027
Shi Y, Chen S, Sun H et al (2013) Low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3 over hierarchically macro-mesoporous MnTiO2. Catal Commun 42:10–13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catcom.2013.07.036
Şöhret Y, Gürbüz H (2020) A comparison of gasoline, liquid petroleum gas, and hydrogen utilization in an spark ignition engine in terms of environmental and economic indicators. J Energy Resour Technol. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4048527
Sun C, Tang Y, Gao F et al (2015) Effects of different manganese precursors as promoters on catalytic performance of CuO-MnOx/TiO2 catalysts for NO removal by CO. Phys Chem Chem Phys. https://doi.org/10.1039/C5CP02158H
Thirupathi B, Smirniotis PG (2011) Co-doping a metal (Cr, Fe Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ce, and Zr) on Mn/TiO2 catalyst and its effect on the selective reduction of NO with NH3 at low-temperatures. Appl Catal B Environ 110:195–206. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apcatb.2011.09.001
Thirupathi B, Smirniotis PG (2012) Nickel-doped Mn/TiO2 as an efficient catalyst for the low-temperature SCR of NO with NH3: catalytic evaluation and characterizations. J Catal 288:74–83. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcat.2012.01.003
Vamvuka D (2011) Bio-oil, solid and gaseous biofuels from biomass pyrolysis processes—an overview. Int J Energy Res 35:835–862. https://doi.org/10.1002/er.1804
Wu Y, Lu Y, Song C et al (2013) A novel redox-precipitation method for the preparation of MnO2 with a high surface Mn4+ concentration and its activity toward complete catalytic oxidation of oxylene. Catal Today 201:32–39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2012.04.032
Xie J, Fang D, He F et al (2012) Performance and mechanism about MnOx species included in MnOx/TiO2 catalysts for SCR at low temperature. Catal Commun 28:77–81. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.catcom.2012.08.022
Xu R, Ferrante L, Hall K et al (2011) Thermal self-sustainability of biochar production by pyrolysis. J Anal Appl Pyrolysis 91:55–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jaap.2011.01.001
Yang J, Zhou J, Tong W et al (2019) Low-temperature flue gas denitration with transition metal oxides supported on biomass char. J Energy Inst 92:1158–1166. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joei.2018.06.002
Zhang S, Zhang B, Liu B, Sun S (2017) A review of Mn-containing oxide catalysts for low temperature selective catalytic reduction of NOx with NH3: reaction mechanism and catalyst deactivation. RSC Adv 7:26226–26242. https://doi.org/10.1039/C7RA03387G
Funding
Not applicable.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of interest
The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.
Additional information
Publisher's Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Raja, S., Eshwar, D., Natarajan, S. et al. Biochar supported manganese based catalyst for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of nitric oxide. Clean Techn Environ Policy 25, 1109–1118 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02274-5
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10098-022-02274-5