Performance of the Laboratory Prepared Catalysts on Combustion of Methanol

Abstract

In this study, catalytic combustion of volatile organic compounds that cause a noxious effect on the environment was investigated. Volatile organic compounds can cause some health and environmental problems, so most volatile organic compounds are capable of destruction through thermal oxidation. In this study, the optimum conditions for catalytic combustion of methanol is investigated. Methanol is used in a fixed bed reactor at five different temperatures between 125 and 225°C with five different catalysts. For this purpose, methanol combustion was observed on manganese oxide catalysts supported by silica or alumina and an industrial catalyst that was a mixture of copper oxide and zinc oxide. Between the catalysts, silica supported catalysts that include 18.2 wt%. MnO loading gives the best results for combustion of methanol. Activities of both silica supported catalysts increased with increasing MnO loading.