Tubular C/Cu decorated γ-alumina membranes for NO abatement

In this work, tubular gamma-alumina ultrafiltration membranes have been modified with a sodium alginate/alpha-alumina suspension based on a modified polyol process in order to be used as forced flow membrane reactors. A C/Cu nanocomposite layer containing Cu nanoparticles of small and uniform size (ca. 14 nm) was deposited and stabilized on the external and internal surface of the membrane. The structural, morphological and gas permeance properties of the obtained catalytic membranes have been studied and their DeNO(x) performance has been evaluated in flow through mode of operation. NO catalytic abatement evaluation in flow through dead-end mode with 1% NO in N-2 fed from shell to lumen showed high efficiency even at low temperatures and reached 75% at 400 degrees C. Steady state NO conversion efficiency reached about 30% at 400 degrees C and heat treatment in He atmosphere at 440 degrees C revealed the role of NO sorption onto the carbon dressing. (C) 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.