Photocatalytic Oxidation of SO2 from Flue Gas in the Presence of Mn/Copper Slag as a Novel Nanocatalyst: Optimizations by Box-Behnken Design

Abstract

<em><span>One of the principal air pollutants is sulfur dioxide (SO₂). The removal of SO₂from flue gas has been one of the key challenges in the control of SO₂ emission. In this work, experimental scale photocatalytic oxidation</span><span> of SO₂ is a major process leading to H₂SO₄ as a new method was suggested on the Liquid phase using Manganese supported on Copper Slag (Mn/CS)</span><span> under UltraViolet (UV) irradiation</span><span>. Mn/CS recognized as a novel</span><span> nanocatalyst for photocatalytic </span><span>oxidation of SO₂ from simulated flue gas. In this study, a Column Packed Photo Catalytic Reactor (CPPCR)</span><span> was applied. Firstly, the Mn/CS was perpetrated by the impregnation method. Analysis of X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Field Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), FT-IR and X-Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS) were used for detection structure, morphology, and size of a particle of Mn/CS nanocatalyst and mechanism of manganese onto copper slag. FESEM results show a good agreement with those determined by the XPS. Box–Behnken Design (BBD) <br /> </span><span>was used for optimization of variables, such as gas flow rate (L/min), Temperature (°C), Reaction time</span><span> (</span><span>min) and SO₂ concentration (mg/L).</span><span> Removal of SO₂under the optimal conditions, (8.1414, 25, 60 and 3.94) for Gas flow rate, Temperature, Reaction time and SO₂ Concentration respectively were obtained</span><span>. The most efficiency SO₂ removal achieved at the optimal operating conditions is around 99%.</span><span> It is concluded that the usage of this photocatalytic oxidation of SO₂ process, <br /> can significantly reduce SO₂ air pollution.</span></em>