Toluene is a major air pollutant emitted from painting and metal coating processes and might have some health effects. Adsorption and catalytic complete oxidation are promising ways to retain or convert toluene into harmless products. The present work aims to develop a bifunctional material which can be used as an adsorbent and catalyst for low-temperature toluene removal. Copper zeolites were obtained by exchanging the sodium in the parent NaX zeolite with copper from aqueous solutions of Cu(NO3)2•2.5H2O. Several characterization techniques, H2-TPR, XPS, XRD and N2 physisorption, were used in order to evaluate the redox, surface, structural and textural properties of the materials, respectively. The various materials were tested in adsorption and catalytic processes. The sample with low copper content (1 wt. %) exhibited promising features in terms of toluene adsorption capacity and total oxidation. The results can be correlated to the presence of micropores and well-dispersed CuO species.
OPEN ACCESSCatalysts 2015, 5 1480
A review of the energy recovery from waste tyres is presented and focuses on the three thermochemical processes used to valorise waste tyres: pyrolysis, gasification, and combustion/incineration. After recalling the chemical composition of tyres, the thermogravimetric behaviours of tyres or their components under different atmospheres are described. Different kinetic studies on the thermochemical processes are treated. Then, the three processes were investigated, with a particular attention given to the gasification, due to the information unavailability on this process. Pyrolysis is a thermochemical conversion to produce a hydrocarbon rich gas mixture, condensable liquids or tars, and a carbon-rich solid residue. Gasification is a form of pyrolysis, carried out at higher temperatures and under given atmosphere (air, steam, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc.) in order to yield mainly low molecular weight gaseous products. Combustion is a process that needs a fuel and an oxidizer with an ignition system to produce heat and/or steam. The effects of various process parameters such as temperature, heating rate, residence time, catalyst addition, etc. on the energy efficiency and the products yields and characteristics are mainly reviewed. These thermochemical processes are considered to be the more attractive and practicable methods for recovering energy and material from waste tyres. For the future, they are the main promising issue to treat and valorise used tyres. However, efforts should be done in developing more efficient technical systems.
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