DeNOx Abatement over Sonically Prepared Iron-Substituted Y, USY and MFI Zeolite Catalysts in Lean Exhaust Gas Conditions.

Iron-substituted MFI, Y and USY zeolites prepared by two preparation routes-classical ion exchange and the ultrasound modified ion-exchange method-were characterised by micro-Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and ultraviolet (UV)/visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV/Vis DRS). Ultrasound irradiation, a new technique for the preparation of the metal salt suspension before incorporation to the zeolite structure, was employed. An experimental study of selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO with NH3 on both iron-substituted reference zeolite catalysts and those prepared through the application of ultrasound conducted during an ion-exchange process is presented. The prepared zeolite catalysts show high activity and selectivity in SCR deNOx abatement. The MFI-based iron catalysts, especially those prepared via the sonochemical method, revealed superior activity in the deNOx process, with almost 100% selectivity towards N2. The hydrothermal stability test confirmed high stability and activity of MFI-based catalysts in water-rich conditions during the deNOx reaction at 450 °C.

Generalised two-dimensional correlation analysis of the Co, Ce, and Pd mixed oxide catalytic systems for methane combustion using in situ infrared spectroscopy.

The process of methane combustion over the surface of a catalyst is still not fully understood. The identification of the reaction path and the intermediates created during catalysis is crucial for understanding the transformation of methane molecules. Two-dimensional (2D) correlation spectroscopy was engaged as a tool for the quantitative analysis of a series of temperature-dependent infrared spectra registered in situ during methane combustion. The prepared samples of catalysts were based on a Co, Pd and Ce mixed oxide adsorbed on an aluminium oxide layer deposited on kanthal steel. The registered spectra were transformed into 2D synchronous and asynchronous contour maps. The sequential order of spectral intensity changes was determined, and the resolution enhancement of overlapping IR bands by 2D correlation was demonstrated. The changes in the bands' intensity and information about band position can be correlated with a specific bond, and thus, the possible process intermediates can be identified. The 2DCoS analysis proved to be a powerful tool for band enhancement and revealed the changes occurring within the analysed catalyst systems as responses to increased temperature.

Antimicrobial Properties of Silver Cations Substituted to Faujasite Mineral.

A goal of our study was to find an alternative to nano-silver-based antimicrobial materials which would contain active silver immobilized in a solid matrix that prevents its migration into the surrounding environment. In this study, we investigated whether silver cations dispersed in an atomic form and trapped in an ion-exchanged zeolite show comparable antimicrobial activity to silver nanoparticles (NPs). The biocidal active material was prepared from the sodium form of faujasite type zeolite in two steps: (1) exchange with silver cations, (2) removal of the external silver oxide NPs by elution with Na2EDTA solution. The modified biocidal zeolite was then added to paper pulp to obtain sheets. The zeolite paper samples and reference samples containing silver NPs were tested in terms of biocidal activity against an array of fungi and bacteria strains, including Escherichia coli, Serratia marcescens, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus megaterium, Trichoderma viride, Chaetomium globosum, Aspergillus niger, Cladosporium cladosporioides, and Mortierella alpina. The paper with the modified faujasite additive showed higher or similar antibacterial and antifungal activities towards the majority of tested microbes in comparison with the silver NP-filled paper. A reverse effect was observed for the Mortierella alpina strain.

Non-Noble Metal Oxide Catalysts for Methane Catalytic Combustion: Sonochemical Synthesis and Characterisation.

The aim of this study was to obtain nanocrystalline mixed metal-oxide-ZrO2 catalysts via a sonochemically-induced preparation method. The effect of a stabiliser's addition on the catalyst parameters was investigated by several characterisation methods including X-ray Diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, X-ray fluorescence (XRF), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and µRaman. The sonochemical preparation method allowed us to manufacture the catalysts with uniformly dispersed metal-oxide nanoparticles at the support surface. The catalytic activity was tested in a methane combustion reaction. The activity of the catalysts prepared by the sonochemical method was higher than that of the reference catalysts prepared by the incipient wetness method without ultrasonic irradiation. The cobalt and chromium mixed zirconia catalysts revealed their high activities, which are comparable with those presented in the literature.

2D-COS of in situ µ-Raman and in situ IR spectra for structure evolution characterisation of NEP-deposited cobalt oxide catalyst during n-nonane combustion.

New catalytic systems are still in development to meet the challenge of regulations concerning the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is because such compounds have a significant impact on air quality and some of them are toxic to the environment and human beings. The catalytic combustion process of VOCs over non-noble metal catalysts is of great interest to researchers. The high conversion parameters and cost effective preparation makes them a valuable alternative to monoliths and noble metal catalysts. In this study, the cobalt catalyst was prepared by non-equilibrium plasma deposition of organic precursor on calcined kanthal steel. Thus prepared, cobalt oxide based microstructural short-channel reactors were tested for n-nonane combustion and the catalyst surfaces were examined by in situ µ-Raman spectroscopy and in situ infrared spectroscopy. The spectra collected at various temperatures were used in generalised two-dimensional correlation analysis to establish the sequential order of spectral intensity changes and correlate the simultaneous changes in bands selectively coupled by different interaction mechanisms. The 2D synchronous and asynchronous contour maps were proved to be a valuable extension to the standard analysis of the temperature dependent 1D spectra.

Assessment of hyperspectral imaging system for colour measurement.

A novel technique of reflective spectroscopy, hyperspectral imaging (HSI), was used to develop a methodology for colour measurement, which is very important in the field of art conservation - especially in the analysis of documents. The major focus of this work is an examination of the repeatability and reproducibility of colour parameters calculated from the hyperspectral data. The study was performed with commercial colour standards and pen ink lines, corresponding to large and small-scale colour areas, respectively. In some cases, the error of parameter determination indicated significant differences between the examined sample sets, which may be attributed to the low population of pixels from which the colour data were obtained. Our study allowed the development of an optimal hyperspectral image acquisition method for applications requiring accurate determination of the object's spectral characteristics. Besides determining the proper measurement procedure and the colour accuracy of the HSI, our study is also used to test this method for colour change monitoring of a real-life sample - a document treated with low-temperature plasma as a cleaning agent. The results proved that, by using hyperspectral imaging, colour change can be precisely determined and monitored within a selected area on the object. The application of HSI presented in our study was found to be an important alternative to conventional colorimeters.