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Degree

Master of Science, Miami University, Paper and Chemical Engineering, 2012.

Abstract

Cryptomelane (KMn8O16) was prepared by two methods: 1) a sol-gel method, and 2) a proprietary method that uses alkaline battery waste as a starting material. These cryptomelane materials were investigated as volatile organic carbon (VOC) oxidation catalysts and compared. To better understand the roles of processing steps on the physical characteristics and catalytic activity, the effects of zinc dopant and calcination temperature were studied with the sol-gel cryptomelane materials. Zinc dopant was included as a test variable because it is present in alkaline battery waste, and cyrptomelane prepared from battery waste also contains zinc (<5 wt%). The oxidation of ethanol was used to assess catalytic activity of the cryptomelane materials. It was found that cryptomelane-based manganese dioxide prepared by both the sol-gel method and from battery waste can be used as catalysts in the catalytic oxidation of ethanol in air. The zinc dopant (<5 wt%) has very little impact on catalytic activity, although it has some impact on the morphology and crystallinity of the materials. Calcination temperature, however, which impacts the surface area of the material, has a much more significant role, where the higher the calcination temperature, the lower the surface area, and hence, the lower the catalytic activity.

Subject Headings

Chemical Engineering

Keywords

cryptomelane; manganese dioxide; ethanol oxidation; zinc; catalyst; sol-gel method; battery waste

Committee / Advisors

Catherine Almquist (Advisor)
Krekeler Mark (Advisor)
Kerr Lei (Committee Member)
Lalvani Shashi (Committee Member)

Pages

46p.

Document number: miami1352827354
Permalink: http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=miami1352827354

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