Gaseous and particulate emissions from a chimneyless biomass cookstove equipped with a potassium catalyst

Abstract

Approximately three billion people cook with solid fuels, mostly wood, on open fires or rudimentary stoves. These traditional cooking methods produce particulate matter and carbon monoxide known to cause significant respiratory health problems, especially among women and children, who often have the highest exposure. In this work, an inexpensive potassium-based catalyst was incorporated in a chimneyless biomass cookstove to reduce harmful emissions through catalytic oxidation. Potassium titanate was identified as an effective and stable oxidation catalyst capable of oxidizing particulate matter and carbon monoxide. Using a cordierite monolith to incorporate potassium titanate within a bespoke, rocket-style, improved cookstove led to a 36% reduction in particulate matter emissions relative to a baseline stove with a blank monolith and a 26% reduction relative to a stove with no monolith. Additionally, the catalytic stove reduced particulate matter emissions by 82%, reduced carbon monoxide emissions by 70%, and improved efficiency by 100% compared to a carefully tended, three-stone fire. Potassium titanate was also shown to oxidize carbon monoxide at temperatures as low as 500 °C, or as low as 300 °C when doped with copper or cobalt.

Laser-induced fluorescence for studying the influence of potassium and sodium salts on PAH formation in sooting premixed flames

“…There have been several studies on the influence of potassium and sodium on soot formation in applied systems, such as biomass and coal combustion systems [7,[10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. For example, addition of potassium has been found to reduce soot concentration [7], diminish particulate matter emissions [10] and improve catalytic activity in soot oxidation process [10][11][12][13]. Likewise, sodium addition also showed catalytic activity for soot oxidation [14,15], and an increase in soot yield [15].…”

Emission Performance and User Acceptance of a Catalytic Biomass Cookstove in Rural Guatemala

“…12−14 We recently showed that introducing an oxidation catalyst to a rocket stove is capable of reducing PM and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions. 15…”

Systematic and Robust Air Cleanser for Cleaning a Pollution Caused by the Rocket Stove

“…Similarly, [24] is said to be unsafe for clearing the ash from the combustion chamber, before the stove gets stop burning. [25] ends up with some health issues. So forth to deal with these issues an ecofriendly stove technology, that prevents the pollution caused with emission of exhaust gas has to be innovated.…”