Potential fly ash waste as catalytic converter for reduction of HC and CO emissions

Abstract

The huge amount of fly ash produced in the coal industry has caused environmental problems. This research presents the performance of catalytic converters manufactured from coal fly ash for the reduction of gas emissions of a motor vehicle. At idle engine speed and 0.1 MPa air pressure, the presence of activated fly ash as a catalytic converter could reduce the emissions of hydrocarbons (HC) and carbon monoxide (CO) up to 48 and 45%, respectively. The increase in the length of catalytic converter could further decrease the emissions of HC and CO. By increasing the engine speed, the emissions decreased with or without catalytic converter. The optimum air pressure was obtained at 0.1 MPa. The minimum emissions of HC and CO were observed at the engine speed of 2000 rpm, catalyst length of 9 cm and air pressure of 0.1 MPa with the value of 1260 and 8510 ppm, respectively. Therefore, the utilization of fly ash as catalytic converter in the exhaust system motor vehicles can minimize several environmental problems such as fly ash waste and gas emission.