In-situ degradation of polybrominated diphenyl ethers from thermal desorption off-gas over structured Fe-based/γ-Al2O3/Al plate-type catalyst

Abstract

Thermal desorption was an efficient method for removal of decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) from contaminated soil, but some less brominated diphenyl ethers (tri- to hepta-BDEs) with high toxicity were detected in the effluent gas. Herein, a novel anodic alumina supported Fe-based catalyst was developed and applied for in-situ degradation of gaseous polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). The produced Fe/γ-Al2O3/Al catalyst was able to degrade PBDEs in the effluent gas, while a low activity with degradation efficiency of 70.1% was observed. As such, Cu was added into the Fe-based catalyst, and the effects of Cu loading on gaseous PBDEs degradation were systematically examined. A proper copper loading was found to increase the active Fe3O4 sites, thus improving the catalytic activity. Meanwhile, the degradation of gaseous PBDEs by Fe-based catalysts follows a pseudo-first-order model. A 90.2% PBDEs degradation efficiency was achieved at 375 °C on the optimized Fe/Cu/γ-Al2O3/Al catalyst, which demonstrated that the anodic alumina supported Fe and Cu was an excellent catalyst for gaseous PBDEs degradation system. Thus, this study provides a promising method and catalyst to achieve in-situ degradation of gaseous PBDEs.