Physicochemical properties of pine-derived bio-chars modified by metal oxides and their performance in the removal of NO

Pine-derived bio-chars have been prepared at different temperatures with and without KOH chemical activation. Three metal oxides (V2O5, MnO and CuO) were loaded on this chars by incipient-wetness impregnation method respectively. Pine wood pellets were characterized by thermogravimetric, and pine-chars samples were characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, N-2 physisorption and FTIR. Activity test for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3 was also carried out in dry simulated flue gas at fixed temperature 160 degrees C. The results show that pretreatment with KOH and carbonization at 600 degrees C seems to be the best method for pine-chars preparation. Active metal oxides are well distributed on the surface of carbon support and are partly reduced by carbon during preparation. The mesopores disappear in V- and Mn-containing samples, and V-addition could decrease the amount of micropores as well. At the fixed temperature 160 degrees C, the active metal oxides have an order of CuO > V2O5 >> MnOx >> Non-modified sample on the NO reduction activity. Pine-chars modified by CuO seems to be the best option in this research. (C) 2017 Energy Institute. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.