Efficient Toluene Decontamination and Resource Utilization through Ni/Al₂O₃ Catalytic Cracking

Area of Science:

• Environmental Chemistry
• Catalysis
• Materials Science

Background:

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), especially aromatic hydrocarbons like toluene, present significant environmental hazards due to toxicity and contribution to secondary pollutant formation.
• Effective remediation strategies are crucial for mitigating environmental risks associated with VOCs.
• Resource recovery from pollutant degradation aligns with circular economy principles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the catalytic pyrolysis of toluene for efficient removal and resource recovery.
• To develop and characterize a Ni/Al2O3 catalyst for VOC remediation.
• To optimize conditions for toluene decomposition and valuable product generation.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of Ni/Al2O3 catalyst via impregnation.
• Characterization of catalyst and products using SEM, XRD, and N2 adsorption-desorption.
• Catalytic pyrolysis experiments to determine toluene removal efficiency, carbon material yield, and hydrogen production.
• Optimization of reaction temperature.

Main Results:

• The Ni/Al2O3 catalyst effectively decomposed toluene at 700 °C.
• Under optimal conditions, 1328 mg/g toluene was removed, yielding 915 mg/g of carbon material and 1234 mL/g of COx-free hydrogen.
• The recovered carbon material consists of mesoporous graphite nanofibers with high surface area, suitable for adsorption, catalysis, and energy storage.

Conclusions:

• Catalytic pyrolysis using Ni/Al2O3 offers a promising method for toluene remediation and resource recovery.
• The process converts a harmful VOC into valuable solid carbon and hydrogen.
• This approach supports green chemistry and circular economy objectives by transforming pollutants into usable materials.