Practical Application of Mn-Cu Metal Catalyst for the Removal of Acetaldehyde

아세트알데히드 제거를 위한 Mn-Cu 금속촉매 실용화에 관한 연구

Because sensing odor varies depending on each person, even if the odor is released in line with the legal emission permission concentration levels, it can still become a social issue if a civil complaint is made. The purpose of this research is to study the possibility of putting Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalysts into practical use to economically eliminate acetaldehyde which produces a odor in the industrial process. An optimal operating parameter to eliminate acetaldehyde was deduced through a performance evaluation in the research laboratory and the performance was verified by applying the parameter into an actual facility as an on-the-site experiment through a Scale-up of pilot size. The operating temperature of the metallic oxide catalysts researched so far was at the minimum close to $220^{\circ}C$, and the $220^{\circ}C$ elimination efficiency was 50% or below. However, having experimented by using a Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalyst in this research, optimum elimination efficiency showed when space velocity (GHSV) was equal to or below 6,000 $hr^{-1}$. The average elimination efficiency was 61.2% when the catalyst controlling temperature was $120^{\circ}C$, 93.3% when the catalyst controlling temperature was $160^{\circ}C$, and 94.9% when catalyst controlling temperature was $180^{\circ}C$, thereby reflecting high elimination efficiency. The specific surface area of the catalyst was $200m^2/g$ before use, however, was reduced to $47.162m^2/g$ after 24 months and therefore showed that despite the decrease in specific surface area as time passed, there was no significant influence on the performance. Having operated Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalyst systems for at least two years on a site where there was no inflow of toxins like sulfur compounds and acidic gases, we were able to confirm that elimination efficiency of at least 90% was maintained.

악취는 사람마다 느끼는 정도가 다르므로 법적 배출허용농도 이내로 배출된다고 하더라도 민원 발생 시 사회적으로 이슈화가 되는 특징이 있다. 본 연구는 산업공정에서 발생된 악취중의 아세트알데히드를 경제적으로 제거하기 위해 Mn-Cu 금속산화물 촉매의 실용화 가능성에 관한 연구이며, 실험실에서 성능평가를 통해 아세트알데히드 제거를 위한 최적 운전인자를 도출하였고, 파일럿 규모의 Scale-up을 통한 현장 실험으로 실제규모 시설에 적용하여 성능을 검증하였다. 지금까지 연구되어진 금속산화물 촉매의 운전온도는 최소 $220^{\circ}C$ 근방에서 아세트알데히드 제거효율이 50% 이하였다. 그러나 본 연구에서 Mn-Cu 금속산화물 촉매를 사용하여 실험한 결과 공간속도(GHSV)가 6,000 $hr^{-1}$ 이하일 때 최적의 제거효율을 보였으며, 촉매제어 온도가 $120^{\circ}C$일 때 평균 제거효율은 61.2%, $160^{\circ}C$에서는 93.3%, $180^{\circ}C$에서는 94.9%로 높은 제거효율을 보였다. 촉매의 비표면적은 사용 전 $200m^2/g$이었으나 24개월 경과 시 $47.162m^2/g$으로 나타나 비표면적은 시간이 지남에 따라 줄어들지만 성능에는 큰 영향이 없었고, 황화합물과 산성가스 등과 같은 피독물질이 유입되지 않는 현장에서 Mn-Cu 금속산화물 촉매장치를 2년 이상 운전한 결과 90% 이상의 제거효율이 유지되고 있는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.