Investigating New Frontiers of Catalytic Ozonation for Air Pollution Control

空气污染控制是工业化世界面临的主要挑战之一。传统上，空气污染指的是室外空气污染。然而，人们现在更多的时间花在封闭的环境中，如住宅/商业建筑和商业办公室，这些环境使他们暴露在室内空气污染物中，导致病态建筑综合症(SBS)。本研究的重点是利用臭氧缓解室内外空气污染。臭氧是一种活性分子，能够去除多种空气污染物。当被催化剂激活时，臭氧将有害的空气污染物氧化成无害的产品。 这项拟议的研究将研究挥发性有机化合物(VOCs)氧化的新催化系统，挥发性有机化合物是室内空气污染的主要贡献者。它还将研究从工业排放中去除两种室外空气污染物NO和NH3的创新解决方案。这项研究计划将产生新材料和改进的工艺流程，以减少空气污染。 本研究的第一个目标是研制稳定的催化剂，能够在室温下将室内VOCs氧化成CO2而不会失活。目前，现有的催化剂由于反应中间产物在其表面的积累而失活。金属有机骨架(MOF)和核壳结构是一类新的材料家族，可以设计出具有定制性能的催化剂。基于硅壳中的锰、银、铂和钯以及含铟、铁和铬的金属氧化物，将开发出活性和稳定的催化剂。这些工程材料将有可能通过有效地接触VOCs和臭氧来实现所需的性能，以阻止催化剂失活。这项研究的结果将有助于开发室内空气净化装置，消除与SBS相关的健康问题，使加拿大人受益。 本研究的第二个目标是开发选择性臭氧氧化NO生成NO2和N2O5的催化剂，以提高选择性催化还原(SCR)反应器和湿式洗涤器脱除烟气中NOx(NO和NO2混合物)的效率。以锰氧化物为基础的催化剂将被用于NO的氧化。本研究的第三个目标是在常温下通过催化臭氧氧化选择性地分解NH3生成氮气。将测试铂、Ru、铜、铁、锰和银催化剂，以确定最活跃的金属。NH3和NOx排放行业，如农业、发电、运输和石油行业，将从这项研究计划中受益匪浅。 这项研究将导致开发更高效的催化剂，通过提高反应速度来优化工艺条件，从而改善空气质量。将培训反应工程、催化和表面科学方面的高素质人员。拟议的研究计划将为加拿大人提供改善的空气质量。

Air pollution control is one of the major challenges of the industrialized world. Traditionally, air pollution referred to outdoor air pollution. However, people now spend more time in enclosed environments such as residential/commercial buildings and business offices that exposes them to indoor air pollutants, causing sick building syndrome (SBS). The focus of this research is to mitigate indoor and outdoor air pollution using ozone. Ozone is a reactive molecule which enables the removal of a wide range of air pollutants. When activated by catalysts, ozone oxidizes hazardous air pollutants to harmless products. The proposed research will investigate novel catalytic systems for the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are the main contributors to indoor air pollution. It will also study innovative solutions for the removal of two outdoor air pollutants, NO and NH3, from industrial emissions. This research program will yield new materials and enhanced technological processes to reduce air pollution. The first objective of this research is to formulate stable catalysts that can oxidize indoor VOCs to CO2 without deactivation at room temperature. Currently, available catalysts deactivate due to the accumulation of reaction intermediates on their surface. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) and core-shell structures are new families of materials that allow designing catalysts with tailored properties. Active and stable catalysts will be developed based on Mn, Ag, Pt, and Pd confined in silica shells and MOFs containing In, Fe, and Cr. These engineered materials will make it possible to achieve desired properties to hinder the deactivation of catalysts by efficiently contacting VOCs and ozone. The findings of this research will help develop indoor air purifying units, benefitting Canadians by eliminating health problems related to SBS. The second objective of this research is to develop catalysts for selective ozonation of NO to produce NO2 and N2O5, to enhance the efficiency of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) reactors and wet scrubbers for the removal of NOx (mixture of NO and NO2) from flue gas. Catalysts based on manganese oxides will be tested for the oxidation of NO. The third objective of this research is to selectively decompose NH3 to produce N2 by catalytic ozonation near ambient temperatures. Pt, Ru, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Ag catalysts will be tested to identify the most active metals. NH3 and NOx emitting industries such as agriculture, power generation, transportation, and petroleum sectors will benefit significantly from this research program. This research will lead to the development of catalysts that are more efficient with optimized process conditions through increased reaction rates that will improve air quality. Highly qualified personnel will be trained in reaction engineering, catalysis, and surface science. The proposed research program will provide Canadians with improved air quality.