Elimination of formaldehyde over Cu-Al_2O_3 catalyst at room temperature

Catalytic elimination of formaldehyde(HCHO) was investigated over Cu-Al_2O_3 catalyst at room temperature. The results indicated that no oxidation of HCHO into CO_2 occurs at room temperature, but the adsorption of HCHO occurs on the catalyst surface. With the increase of gas hourly space velocity(GHSV) and inlet HCHO concentration, the time to reach saturation was shortened proportionally. The results of the in situ DRIFTS, Density functional theory calculations and temperature programmed desorption(TPD) showed that HCHO was completely oxidized into HCOOH over Cu-Al_2O_3 at room temperature. With increasing the temperature in a flow of helium, HCOOH was completely decomposed into CO_2 over the catalyst surface, and the deactivated Cu-Al_2O_3 is regenerated at the same time. In addition, although Cu had no obvious influence on the adsorption of HCHO on Al_2O_3, Cu dramatically lowered the decomposition temperature of HCOOH into CO_2. It was shown that Cu-Al_2O_3 catalyst had a good ability for the removal of HCHO, and appeared to be promising for its application in destroying HCHO at room temperature.

Preparation and emission characteristics of ethanol-diesel fuel blends

The preparation of ethanol-diesel fuel blends and their emission characteristics were investigated. Results showed the absolute ethanol can dissolve in diesel fuel at an arbitrary ratio and a small quantity of water(0.2%) addition can lead to the phase separation of blends. An organic additive was synthesized and it can develop the ability of resistance to water and maintain the stability of ethanol-diesel-trace amounts of water system. The emission characteristics of 10%, 20%, and 30% ethanol-diesel fuel blends, with or without additives, were compared with those of diesel fuel in a direct injection(DI) diesel engine. The experimental results indicated that the blend of ethanol with diesel fuel significantly reduced the concentrations of smoke, hydrocarbon(HC), and carbon monoxide(CO) in exhaust gas. Using 20% ethanol-diesel fuel blend with the additive of 2% of the total volume, the optimum mixing ratio was achieved, at which the bench diesel engine testing showed a significant decrease in exhaust gas. Bosch smoke number was reduced by 55%, HC emission by 70%, and CO emission by 45%, at 13 kW/1540 r/min. However, ethanol-diesel fuel blends produced a few ppm acetaldehydes and more ethanol in exhaust gas.