FeMn/Al2O3 as a high-efficient and low-cost catalyst for chlorobenzene removal in a nonthermal plasma-catalysis reactor

Fe and Mn are the transition-metals that have advantages of low cost and easy availability. In order to high efficient remove chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs), a series of high-efficient and low-cost FexMny/Al2O3 catalysts were synthesized by reflux-coprecipitation method, and the removal of chlorobenzene, a CVOCs model compounds, was studied in a nonthermal plasma coupled with FexMny/Al2O3 system at room temperature. The kinetic parameters of the chlorobenzene removal in the nonthermal plasma reactor coupled with FexMny/Al2O3 were obtained. Meanwhile, the reaction route of the chlorobenzene removal in the nonthermal plasma coupled with FexMny/Al2O3 reactor was revealed. The results indicated that the best conversion efficiency and the highest CO2 selectivity of the chlorobenzene removal in the plasma-Fe1Mn1/Al2O3 system were in sequence as 95.77% and 93.11%. Moreover, the positive synergy between the plasma and the FexMny/Al2O3 catalysts greatly reduced the activation energies of the chlorobenzene removal, and improved the chlorobenzene removal efficiency in the plasma-FexMny/Al2O3 system. Finally, the possible reaction routes of the chlorobenzene removal in the plasma-Fe1Mn1/Al2O3 system were proposed based on the intermediates identified by the GC/MS.(c) 2022 Institution of Chemical Engineers. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study investigates the application of a series of high-efficient and low-cost FexMny/Al2O3 catalysts in the removal of chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) using nonthermal plasma. The results show that the plasma-Fe1Mn1/Al2O3 system exhibits the best performance with high conversion efficiency and CO2 selectivity, and the synergy between plasma and catalyst significantly enhances the chlorobenzene removal efficiency.