Model Volatile Organic Compounds Research Articles

Multifunctional and Environmentally Friendly TiO2-SiO2 Mesoporous Materials for Sustainable Green Buildings.

This work deals with the formulation of environmentally friendly, cheap, and readily-available materials for green building applications, providing the function of air purificator by improving the safety and the comfort of an indoor environment. High surface area TiO2–SiO2 samples, prepared by a simple, cost effective, and scalable synthetic approach, proved to be effective in maximizing the properties of each component, i.e., the photocatalytic properties of titania and the high surface area of silica. TiO2 was introduced onto an ordered mesoporous silica Santa Barbara Amorphous-15 (SBA-15), that is featured by interesting insulating features, by using an incipient wetness impregnation method. The photocatalytic activity was evaluated in gas phase oxidation of ethylbenzene, which was selected as model volatile organic compound (VOC) molecule. The morphological, textural and structural features along with the electronic properties, the hydrophilicity and heat capacity of the materials were investigated in depth by scanning electron microscopy, powder X-ray diffraction, N2 physisorption, diffuse reflectance UV-Vis, FT-IR spectroscopies, and modulated DSC (MDSC) dynamic scan. Outstanding performances in the ethylbenzene abatement results are promising for further application in the green building sector.

VOC emissions from nail salon products and their effective removal using affordable adsorbents and synthetic jets

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) like acetone, ethyl and n-butyl acetate, toluene, and formaldehyde have been measured inside nail salons, where they are emitted from nail care products. Exposure to these compounds can have negative health impacts on both workers and costumers, as well as the environment. The objectives of this research were to characterize VOC emissions from typical nail care products and to investigate VOC removal by 3 low-cost adsorbent materials (coco coir, biochar, and activated carbon). The removal studies were performed using acetone as the model VOC in both chamber experiments and mathematical models. The chamber experiments were conducted under both passive and active flow conditions using synthetic jet actuators to determine the effect of local ventilation on the rate of removal. Mass-normalized adsorption rates were determined for acetone using nth-order rate equations. Adsorption rate models were then developed for all adsorbent materials under both flow conditions and used to estimate the effect of low-cost adsorbents in an actual nail salon. Activated carbon provided the best VOC removal compared to the other 2 adsorbent materials tested. The use of active flow with synthetic jets was also shown to enhance adsorption processes for both biochar and activated carbon, but not for coco coir. Model results predicted activated carbon with active flow enhancement could achieve an effective ventilation rate of nearly 300 m3 h−1 if 250 kg were placed in a 1400 m3 salon.

Cuprous Oxide Based Chemiresistive Electronic Nose for Discrimination of Volatile Organic Compounds.

This paper reports a facile functionalization method on a metal-oxide semiconductor and a cuprous oxide (Cu2O) based chemiresistive electronic nose for the detection of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). A library of functionalized Cu2O nanospheres was developed through silanization using chemically diverse organosilanes. An electronic nose was fabricated with unmodified Cu2O nanospheres and five types of functionalized Cu2O nanospheres as the sensing elements. The electronic nose showed stable and rapid resistance responses to 25-200 ppm model VOCs, with the operating temperature of 180 °C. Single VOCs and ternary VOC mixtures could be discriminated by the electronic nose, and six types of tea leaves were also proved to be distinguishable as an illustration of the application of the electronic nose. We expected that the silanization could provide a simple approach for material diversification and the electronic nose would have further application in identification and discrimination of complex gas samples.

Cobalt Oxide Catalysts in the Form of Thin Films Prepared by Magnetron Sputtering on Stainless-Steel Meshes: Performance in Ethanol Oxidation

Catalytic total oxidation is an effective procedure to minimize emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions in industrial gases. Catalysts in the form of meshes are remarkable as they minimize the internal diffusion of reactants during the reaction as well as the need of expensive active components. In this paper, various conditions of radio frequency magnetron sputtering of cobalt on stainless-steel meshes was applied during catalyst preparation. Properties of the supported Co3O4 catalysts were characterized by SEM, XRD, temperature programmed reduction (H2-TPR), FTIR, XPS, and Raman spectroscopy. Catalytic activity was examined in deep oxidation of ethanol chosen as a model VOC. Performance of the catalysts depended on the amount of Co3O4 deposited on the supporting meshes. According to specific activities (the amounts of ethanol converted per unit weight of Co3O4), smaller Co3O4 particle size led to increased catalytic activity. The catalyst prepared by sputtering in an Ar+O2 atmosphere without calcination showed the highest catalytic activity, which decreased after calcination due to enlargement of Co3O4 particles. However, specific activity of this catalyst was more than 20 times higher than that of pelletized commercial Co3O4 catalyst used for comparison.

The retrograde adsorption phenomenon at the onset of breakthrough and its quantitation: An experimental case study for gaseous toluene on activated carbon surface

The adsorption dynamics of common solid sorbents against various pollutant species are yet poorly understood with respect to the retrograde phenomenon in which the relationship between breakthrough vs. pulled volume is characterized by an early unusual trend (initial increase followed by a decrease to a minimum) and by a normal trend of finally increasing to 100% (or equilibrium). If such trend is expressed in terms of the partition coefficient (PC), a reversed trend of adsorption processes becomes more evident. Retrograde has been previously observed in the initial breakthrough (<10%) isotherms in continuous flow gas-phase adsorption processes. However, retrograde has been neglected/overlooked and not discussed at all in the main stream literature even when it is explicitly observed from isotherm datasets. To properly describe the various aspects of such process, a stop-flow technique was developed to measure the adsorption isotherm of a model volatile organic compound (i.e., toluene in this study) onto a commercial low-cost sorbent (activated carbon: AC). Accordingly, a 10% breakthrough volume of 762 L atm g−1 (corresponding adsorption capacity of 142 mg g−1) was determined (at an inlet stream 5 Pa of toluene in 1 atm of N2 and 5 mg of AC). This automated method was effective to generate a detailed breakthrough profile at high stream-flow rates (or high space velocities) to specifically detect the retrograde phenomenon at the breakthrough onset. This study offers a practical approach towards establishing an in-depth monitoring protocol for the rare retrograde phenomenon.

On the sources and sinks of atmospheric VOCs: an integrated analysis of recent aircraft campaigns over North America.

We apply a high-resolution chemical transport model (GEOS-Chem CTM) with updated treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and a comprehensive suite of airborne datasets over North America to (i) characterize the VOC budget and (ii) test the ability of current models to capture the distribution and reactivity of atmospheric VOCs over this region. Biogenic emissions dominate the North American VOC budget in the model, accounting for 70 % and 95 % of annually emitted VOC carbon and reactivity, respectively. Based on current inventories anthropogenic emissions have declined to the point where biogenic emissions are the dominant summertime source of VOC reactivity even in most major North American cities. Methane oxidation is a 2x larger source of nonmethane VOCs (via production of formaldehyde and methyl hydroperoxide) over North America in the model than are anthropogenic emissions. However, anthropogenic VOCs account for over half of the ambient VOC loading over the majority of the region owing to their longer aggregate lifetime. Fires can be a significant VOC source episodically but are small on average. In the planetary boundary layer (PBL), the model exhibits skill in capturing observed variability in total VOC abundance (R2 = 0:36) and reactivity (R2 = 0:54). The same is not true in the free troposphere (FT), where skill is low and there is a persistent low model bias (~ 60 %), with most (27 of 34) model VOCs underestimated by more than a factor of 2. A comparison of PBL: FT concentration ratios over the southeastern US points to a misrepresentation of PBL ventilation as a contributor to these model FT biases. We also find that a relatively small number of VOCs (acetone, methanol, ethane, acetaldehyde, formaldehyde, isoprene C oxidation products, methyl hydroperoxide) drive a large fraction of total ambient VOC reactivity and associated model biases; research to improve understanding of their budgets is thus warranted. A source tracer analysis suggests a current overestimate of biogenic sources for hydroxyacetone, methyl ethyl ketone and glyoxal, an underestimate of biogenic formic acid sources, and an underestimate of peroxyacetic acid production across biogenic and anthropogenic precursors. Future work to improve model representations of vertical transport and to address the VOC biases discussed are needed to advance predictions of ozone and SOA formation.

Hybrid Analytical Platform Based on Field-Asymmetric Ion Mobility Spectrometry, Infrared Sensing, and Luminescence-Based Oxygen Sensing for Exhaled Breath Analysis.

The reliable online analysis of volatile compounds in exhaled breath remains a challenge, as a plethora of molecules occur in different concentration ranges (i.e., ppt to %) and need to be detected against an extremely complex background matrix. Although this complexity is commonly addressed by hyphenating a specific analytical technique with appropriate preconcentration and/or preseparation strategies prior to detection, we herein propose the combination of three different detector types based on truly orthogonal measurement principles as an alternative solution: Field-asymmetric ion mobility spectrometry (FAIMS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy-based sensors utilizing substrate-integrated hollow waveguides (iHWG), and luminescence sensing (LS). By carefully aligning the experimental needs and measurement protocols of all three methods, they were successfully integrated into a single compact analytical platform suitable for online measurements. The analytical performance of this prototype system was tested via artificial breath samples containing nitrogen (N2), oxygen (O2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and acetone as a model volatile organic compound (VOC) commonly present in breath. All three target analytes could be detected within their respectively breath-relevant concentration range, i.e., CO2 and O2 at 3-5 % and at ~19.6 %, respectively, while acetone could be detected with LOQs as low as 165-405 ppt. Orthogonality of the three methods operating in concert was clearly proven, which is essential to cover a possibly wide range of detectable analytes. Finally, the remaining challenges toward the implementation of the developed hybrid FAIMS-FTIR-LS system for exhaled breath analysis for metabolic studies in small animal intensive care units are discussed.

Functionalized graphene-based chemiresistive electronic nose for discrimination of disease-related volatile organic compounds

This paper reports a procedure of building a functionalized reduced graphene oxide (rGO) library and an electronic nose based on the library. Functionalized rGO was prepared by reducing and modifying graphene oxide (GO) with chemically diverse amine ligands. We used the unmodified rGO and eight different functionalized rGO to build the chemiresistive sensor arrays in the electronic nose. Four potential cancer-related biomarkers in breath, ethanol, 2-ethylhexanol, nonanal and ethylbenzene, were used as the model volatile organic compounds (VOCs) analytes. The electronic nose showed linear responses to the model VOCs with high sensitivity of 25 ppm. Principal component analysis (PCA) results demonstrated the successful discrimination of the four model VOCs and binary VOC mixtures. The procedure of building the rGO library was simple and yielded consistent performance. We expected more versatile and sensitive electronic noses to be constructed based on the functionalized rGO library with potential applications in recognition and quantitative measurement of VOCs for health monitoring and disease diagnosis.

Modeling solid-phase microextraction of volatile organic compounds by porous coatings using finite element analysis

Experimental optimization of analytical methods based on solid-phase microextraction (SPME) is a complex and labor-intensive process associated with uncertainties. Using the theoretical basics of SPME and finite element analysis software for the optimization proved to be an efficient alternative. In this study, an improved finite element analysis-based model for SPME of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) by porous coatings was developed mainly focussing on the mass transport in coatings. Benzene and the Carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (Car/PDMS) coating were used as the model VOC and a porous SPME coating, respectively. It has been established that in the coating, volumetric fractions of Carboxen, PDMS, and air are 33, 42 and 24%, respectively. Knudsen diffusion in micropores can slow down a mass transport of analytes in the coating. When PDMS was considered as the solid part of the coating, lower root-mean-square deviation of the modeling results from experimental data was observed. It has been shown that the developed model can be used to model the extraction of VOCs from air and water samples encountered in a typical SPME development method procedure. It was possible to determine system equilibration times and use them to optimize sample volume and Henry's law constant. The developed model is relatively simple, fast, and can be recommended for optimization of extraction parameters for other analytes and SPME coatings. The diffusivity of analytes in a coating is an important property needed for improved characterization of existing and new SPME polymers and analytical method optimization.

Triplet-Triplet Annihilation Upconversion in Broadly Absorbing Layered Film Systems for Sub-Bandgap Photocatalysis.

Upconversion (UC) of sub-bandgap photons extends the effective light absorption range of photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices, allowing them to reach higher conversion efficiencies. Recent advances in polymer host materials make it possible to translate triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA)-UC, the UC mechanism most suitable for this purpose, to solid films that can be integrated into devices. The promise of these films is currently limited by the narrow light absorption of TTA-UC sensitizer chromophores, but incorporating multiple sensitizers into layered film systems presents a promising strategy for producing UC materials with broadened light absorption. This strategy is hereinapplied for photocatalytic air purification, demonstrating its use in a real-world application for the first time. We superimpose optimized red-to-blue and green-to-blue UC films within dual-layer systems and develop a new photocatalyst compatible with their fluorescence emission. By integrating the dual-layer UC film systems withfilms of this photocatalyst, we produce the first devices that use TTA-UC to harness both red and green sub-bandgap photons for hydroxyl radical generation and photocatalytic degradation of gaseous acetaldehyde, a model volatile organic compound (VOC). Under white light-emitting diode excitation, the dual-layer film systems' broadened light absorption enhances their devices' photocatalytic degradation efficiency, enabling them to degrade twice as much acetaldehyde as their single-sensitizer counterparts. We show that as a result of the different absorption profiles of the two sensitizers, the film order significantly impacts UC fluorescence and VOC degradation. By probing the influence of the excitation light source, excitation geometry, and chromophore spectral overlap on the film systems' UC performance, we propose a framework for the design of multilayer TTA-UC film systems suitable for integration with a variety of photovoltaic and photocatalytic devices.

Combined photocatalytic properties and energy efficiency via multifunctional glass

This study reports on the photocatalytic activity and energy efficiency of two self-cleaning glass benchmarks, namely Pilkington Activ™ Blue (PAB) and Pilkington Activ™ Clear (PAC). These self-cleaning glasses owe their unique properties to a thin layer of titanium oxide (TiO2) able to degrade organic matter when exposed to UV light. The glass samples demonstrated photocatalytic activity towards a model Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), i.e. 2-propanol, and a representative stain molecule, i.e. methylene blue (MB), analyzed at a GC-FID and a UV–vis spectrophotometer, respectively. PAC was more active than PAB towards 2-propanol oxidation under ultraviolet irradiation. Similarly, PAC showed the best reactivity in the degradation of pre-adsorbed MB under simulated solar irradiation. However, comparable performance was found for 2-propanol degradation under simulated solar irradiation.Moreover, using building energy modeling, the energy saving potential of different glazing configurations of PAB and PAC was simulated for buildings in different climatic conditions. The results were compared with those of the Pilkington Optifloat glass, which has no TiO2 coating. The best performance was obtained with the double-glazed PAB configuration.The present study is the first work on assessing the performance of self-cleaning glasses, both as regards energy efficiency and photocatalytic properties. These two types of functionality are equally important but usually evaluated separately, preventing the assessment of the performance as a whole. The clear picture of the overall performance provided in this work for two widespread commercial functionalized glasses may serve as framework for comparing new emerging self-cleaning glasses with existing benchmarks.

Activated Carbon from Renewable Material as an Efficient Support for Palladium Oxidation Catalysts

AbstractActivated carbon prepared from cocoa pod husk, which is an abundant agricultural waste, was employed as a green support for palladium oxidation catalysts. Systematic characterization of the support and palladium catalysts by atomic emission spectroscopy, N2 and CO2 physisorption measurements, X‐ray powder diffraction, infrared spectroscopy, electron microscopy, temperature‐programmed reduction by hydrogen, and temperature‐programmed desorption of NH3 and CO2 allowed detailed monitoring of their characteristics. Subsequently, the catalytic performance and selectivity in the oxidation of ethanol as a model volatile organic compound (VOC) was studied and linked to physicochemical properties of the catalysts.

TiO2-SiO2-PMMA Terpolymer Floating Device for the Photocatalytic Remediation of Water and Gas Phase Pollutants

Floating photocatalytic devices are highly sought-after as they represent good candidates for practical application in pollutant remediation of large water basins. Here, we present a multilayer floating device for the photocatalytic remediation of contaminants present in water as well as of volatile species close to the water surface. The device was prepared on a novel tailored ter-polymer substrate based on methylmethacrylate, α-methylstyrene and perfluoroctyl methacrylate. The ad hoc synthesized support presents optimal characteristics in terms of buoyancy, transparency, gas permeability, mechanical, UV and thermal stability. The adhesion of the TiO2 top layer was favoured by the adopted casting procedure, followed by a corona pre-treatment and by the deposition of an intermediate SiO2 layer, the latter aimed also at protecting the polymer support from photocatalytic oxidation. The device was characterized by contact angle measurement, UV-vis transmittance and scanning electron microscopy. The final device was tested for the photocatalytic degradation of an emerging water pollutant as well as of vapors of a model volatile organic compound. Relevant activity was observed also under simulated solar irradiation and the device showed good stability and recyclability, prospecting its use for the photocatalytic degradation of pollutants in large water basins.

Experimental study of destruction of acetone in exhaust gas using microwave-induced metal discharge

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are air pollutants that pose a major concern, and novel treatment technologies must be continuously explored and developed. In this study, microwave-induced metal discharge was applied to investigate the destruction of acetone as a representative model VOC compound. Results revealed that metal discharge intensity largely depended on microwave output power and the number of metal strips. Microwave metal discharge exerted the distinct combined effects of intense heat, strong light, and plasma. In the case of MW without metal discharge, the decrease in acetone at 200 ppm was remarkably limited (approximately 5.5% (mol/mol)). By contrast, in the case of microwave-induced metal discharge, a considerably high destruction efficiency of up to 65% (mol/mol) was obtained at low concentrations. This finding highlights the potential of microwave-induced discharge for VOC removal. Initial assessment indicated that energy consumption can be acceptable.

Studies on non-modified and copper-modified coal ash zeolites as heterogeneous catalysts for VOCs oxidation.

The present study is aimed at investigations on the catalytic activity for total oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as toluene, acetone, n-hexane and dichlorobenzene onto zeolite-like materials synthesized from coal fly ash (FA) directed to development of an economically efficient approach for degradation of VOCs. Fly ash zeolites (FAZ) were prepared by alkaline conversion of FA collected from Thermal Power Plants supplied with lignite coal from "Maritza-East" basin in Bulgaria. Different synthesis procedures double stage fusion-hydrothermal activation, fusion-atmospheric crystallization and atmospheric aging were applied. The synthesis products were identified by X-ray diffraction, and were assigned to zeolite Na-X. Scanning electron microscopy images reveal submicron dimensions of the composing crystallites. Nitrogen adsorption/desorption measurements reveal a mixed micro-mesoporous structure and specific surface area between 116 and 396 m2/g for the obtained FAZ. Relationships between surface properties, iron content and the catalytic activity of FAZ were investigated and discussed. Copper-modified fly ash zeolites (Cu-FAZ) were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation technique with copper acetylacetonate. The loading of 5 wt. % copper on the zeolite samples was achieved. The catalytic activity of FAZ and Cu-FAZ in the total oxidation of model VOCs mixture containing n-hexane, acetone, toluene, 1,2 dichlorobenzene was evaluated.

Analysis of air photocatalytic purification using a total hazard index: Effect of the composite TiO2/zeolite photocatalyst

The TiO2 and composite TiO2/zeolite catalysts were investigated in the photocatalytic oxidation of model volatile organic compounds. The photocatalytic experiments were performed in a batch reactor using an FTIR in situ method for the detailed analysis of the reaction components in the gas phase. The kinetic data for the TiO2 and composite TiO2/zeolite photocatalysts were compared. A focus on the analysis of the total hazard of gas mixture during the process by using the total hazard index, which includes the contribution of all the gas-phase components, was made. The effect of composite TiO2/zeolite photocatalyst on the total hazard during the photocatalytic oxidation of different VOCs is studied and discussed. The composite TiO2/zeolite photocatalyst allows for suppressing the secondary pollution with harmful intermediates formed during the process that increases the efficiency of air purification compared to TiO2 alone.

A novel approach for toluene gas treatment using a downflow hanging sponge reactor.

A novel gas-scrubbing bioreactor based on a downflow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor was developed as a new volatile organic compound (VOC) treatment system. In this study, the effects of varying the space velocity and gas/liquid ratio were investigated to assess the effectiveness of using toluene gas as a model VOC. Under optimal conditions, the toluene removal rate was greater than 80%, and the maximum elimination capacity was observed at approximately 13g-Cm-3h-1. The DHS reactor demonstrated slight pressure loss (20Pa) and a high concentration of suspended solids (up to 30,000mg/L-sponge). Cloning analysis of the 16S rRNA and functional genes of toluene degradation pathways (tmoA, todC, tbmD, xylA, and bssA) revealed that the clones belonging to the toluene-degrading bacterium Pseudomonas putida constituted the predominant species detected at the bottom of the DHS reactor. The toluene-degrading bacteria Pseudoxanthomonas spadix and Pseudomonas sp. were also detected by tmoA- and todC-targeted cloning analyses, respectively. These results demonstrate the potential for the industrial application of this novel DHS reactor for toluene gas treatment.

On the role of BmimPF6 and P/F- containing additives in the sol-gel synthesis of TiO2 photocatalysts with enhanced activity in the gas phase degradation of methyl ethyl ketone

The role of phosphate and fluoride ions brought by the BmimPF6 ionic liquid via hydrolysis during the sol gel synthesis of TiO2 has been investigated by replacing BmimPF6 with phosphorous- and fluorine-containing additives, phosphoric acid (PA) and sodium fluoride (NaF), respectively. Correlation between the physico-chemical properties and the photocatalytic behavior of the synthesized TiO2 materials was established. High crystallinity anatase TiO2 photocatalysts with controlled crystallite size and shape resulting from P/F-induced modifications displayed strongly improved photocatalytic activity and mineralization yield under UV-A illumination in the degradation of methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) taken as model Volatile Organic Compound (VOC), compared to the TiO2 Aeroxide P25 reference and sol-gel TiO2 counterpart synthesized in absence of any BmimPF6. We showed that the BmimPF6 ionic liquid could be efficiently substituted by cheap PA and NaF additives in an adequate ratio in the sol-gel synthesis for synthesizing TiO2 photocatalysts without altering the main physico-chemical properties and the photocatalytic activity. We proposed a similar synthesis mechanism in both ionic liquid- and P/F-assisted sol-gel syntheses of TiO2, involving a combined role of phosphate and fluoride ions. The reaction of phosphates with titanium hydroxide network in the early stage of the sol-gel synthesis resulted in a size control of TiO2 crystallites and thus in higher specific surface area, in favor of a higher MEK conversion rate, while the fluoride ions were hypothesized to cause an anisotropic TiO2 crystal growth during the aging step of the sol gel synthesis, in favor of a higher selectivity to CO2 through a favored adsorption of intermediate products of MEK degradation on the exposed TiO2 {001} facets.

Crystallization of microporous TiO2 through photochemical deposition of Pt for photocatalytic degradation of volatile organic compounds.

The photocatalytic mineralization efficiency of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is determined by adsorption of reactants, separation of charge carriers, and reaction activity of catalyst surface. Herein, we provide a strategy to synthesize a novel catalyst, namely, PhPt-Micro, which is characterized by high adsorption ability, charge separation efficiency, and surface reaction activity. Toluene was chosen as the model VOC. The effects of photochemical deposition of Pt on the physical properties of microporous amorphous TiO2 (Micro) and toluene mineralization were studied using N2 adsorption/desorption, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, GC-flame ionization detection, and surface photovoltage spectroscopy (SPS) analyses. After photochemical treatment, the structure of Micro was optimized, and Pt nanoparticles were successfully deposited at the outlet of electrons on the catalyst surface. SPS result proved that the optimized structure enhanced the separation efficiency of charge carriers and the migration of photo-generated electrons to the PhPt-Micro surface. The quasi-equilibrium adsorption amount of toluene over PhPt-Micro was two times higher than that with commercial nano TiO2 (P25). The micropores concentrated toluene on the catalyst surface and hindered intermediate desorption. The mineralization efficiency of toluene over PhPt-Micro was 2.4 and 5.9 times higher than those over Micro and P25, respectively.

Novel Synthesis of a High-Performance Pt/ZnO/SiC Filter for the Oxidation of Toluene

In this work, a novel Pt/ZnO/SiC filter was successfully prepared by first coating ZnO nanoparticles on a silicon carbide filter by a sol–gel process and then loading Pt nanoparticles on the ZnO layer through impregnation. The microstructure, crystal morphology, composition and elemental valence of the prepared filter were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). It was found that the ZnO coating layer improved the dispersity of the Pt nanoparticles and significantly enhanced the catalytic performance. Toluene was used as a model volatile organic compound and reached complete conversion of up to 100% over the porous tubular Pt/ZnO/SiC material at a filtration velocity of 0.72 m/min within 240 h at 210 °C. The synthetic ceramic filter presented a good capacity for the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and accordingly, a simple approach is suggested here for prepar...