Optimization and Modeling of CuOx/OMWNT’s for Catalytic Reduction of Nitrogen Oxides by Response Surface Methodology

A series of copper oxide (CuOx) catalysts supported by oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (OMWNT’s) were prepared by the wet impregnation method for the low temperature (200 °C) selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx) using NH3 as a reductant agent in the presence of excess oxygen. These catalysts were characterized by FTIR, XRD, SEM-EDS, and H2-TPR methods. The response surface methodology was employed to model and optimize the effective parameters in the preparation of CuOx/OMWNT’s catalysts in NOx removal by NH3-SCR process. Three experimental parameters, including calcination temperature, calcination time, and CuOx loading were chosen as the independent variables. The central composite design was utilized to establish a quadratic model as a functional relationship between the conversion of NOx as a response factor and independent variables. The ANOVA results showed that the NOx conversion is significantly affected by calcination temperature and CuOx loading. At the optimal values of the studied parameters, the maximum conversion of NOx, 86.3 %, was obtained at a calcination temperature of 318 °C, a calcination time of 3.4 hr., and CuOx loading of 16.73 wt.%; the reaction conditions was as follows: T= 200 °C, P= 1 bar, NO = NH3 = 900 ppm, O2 = 5 vol.%, and GHSV = 30,000 hr.−1. The regression analysis with an R2value of 0.9908 revealed a satisfactory correlation between the experimental data and the values predicted for the conversion of NOx. The XRD and H2-TPR results of the best catalyst showed that the formation of CuO as the dominant phase of CuOx is the key factor in low temperature selective catalytic reduction (SCR) process

Improved Gas Separation of PEBAX-CSWCNTs Mixed Matrix Membranes

In the present study, mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) were prepared using PEBAX® 3000 as polymer matrix and single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) functionalized with carboxyl groups as nanofillers. The effects of the nanofillers on separation of CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 were investigated. The pristine PEBAX membrane indicated gas selectivity values of 23 and 13 for CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4, respectively. However selectivity of the modified membrane for gas pairs of CO2/N2 and CO2/CH4 improved to the values of 106.4 and 31.3, respectively. In other words, selectivity of modified membranes compared to those of unmodified ones enhanced greatly. The dramatic increase in gas selectivity of the mixed matrix membranes can be attributed to the polar groups of caboxyl-functionalized single-wall carbon nanotubes (CSWCNTs). While CO2 permeability of MMMs increaesd, permeability of nonpolar gases (N2 and CH4) decreased. FTIR spectra depicted that there were inter/intramolecular forces between ether and amide groups of the polymer chains. For PEBAX membrane filled with 10 wt% CSWCNTs, the peaks of C-O-C، N-H, and H-N-C=O functional groups shifted to lower values due to the formation of hydrogen bonds between polar carboxyl groups of CSWCNTs and amide/ether groups of PEBAX copolymer. Relative crystallinity values of the membranes with various CSWCNTs content were calculated using ΔHf data obtained from DSC measurements. Results demonstared that the rise in content of CSWCNTs brought about the decrement in crystallinity values of polyamide segments. The morphology of the membrane containing 10 wt% CSWCNTs was also investigated emplying AFM images, and a suitable compatability and adhere between PEBAX and CSWCNTs was last confirmed