Degradation of gaseous 1,2-dichloroethane using a hybrid cuprous oxide catalyst

• Published in: Process safety and environmental protection Vol. 92; no. 5; pp. 442 - 446
• Main Authors: Lin, Jing-Huei, Wu, Shao-Wen, Kuo, Chao-Yin
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier B.V 01.09.2014
• Subjects: 1,2-Dichloroethane; CARBON DIOXIDE; CATALYSTS; CUPROUS OXIDE; Degradation; Hazardous materials; HUMIDITY; Hybrid catalyst; IRRADIATION; OXIDES; Relative humidity; Ultraviolet; Visible light; Degradation; 1,2-Dichloroethane; Visible light; Hybrid catalyst; Cuprous oxide
• ISSN: 0957-5820; 1744-3598
• DOI: 10.1016/j.psep.2014.02.009

A hybrid catalyst (CZ50) of cuprous oxide and zeolite was prepared and used in a catalytic system in which gaseous 1,2-dichloroethane (1,2-DCE) was degraded. The effects of relative humidity (15 and 65%) and wavelength of irradiation (ultraviolet, blue, green and red light) on the degradation of 1,2-DCE were studied. The experimental results reveal that the hybrid catalyst degraded the hazardous material under visible light. A comparison of the results obtained under ultraviolet and red irradiation at a relative humidity of 15% revealed almost equal degradation efficiencies of 83.8 and 82.2%, respectively. In the system with hybrid catalysts, a lower relative humidity favored 1,2-DCE degradation, indicating that relative humidity critically affects the degradation of hazardous materials. The most important result was that the intermediates of the degradation of 1,2-DCE included ethane, carbon dioxide, and formic acid yielded, which are mostly harmless and non-toxic materials. The experimental results indicated that the method could effectively be used to degrade hazardous materials to provide a healthy and safe environment for workers.