• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.19 no.9
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• pp.474-481
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• 2018

The policy-making and technological development of eco-friendly automobiles designed to increase their supply is ongoing, but the internal combustion engine still accounts for approximately 95% of automobiles in use. To meet the stricter emission regulations of internal combustion engines based on fossil fuels, the proportion of after-treatments for vehicles and (ocean going) vessels is increasing continuously. As diesel engines have high power and good fuel economy in addition to less CO2 emissions, their market share is increasing not only in commercial vehicles, but also in passenger cars. Because of the characteristics of the diesel combustion, however, NOx is generated in localized high-temperature combustion regions, and particulates are formed in the zones of diffusion combustion. LNT and urea-SCR catalysts have been developed for the after-treatment of exhaust gas to reduce NOx in diesel vehicles. This study examined the effect of a containing promoter on SCR catalysts to cope with the severe exhaust gas regulation. The de-NOx performance of the Mn-SCR catalyst was the best, and the de-NOx performance was improved as the ion exchange rate between Mn ion and Zeolyst was good and the activation energy was low. The de-NOx performance of the 7Cu-15Ba/78Zeoyst catalyst was 32% at $200^{\circ}C$ and 30% at $500^{\circ}C$, and showed the highest performance. The NOx storage material of BaO loaded as a promoter was well dispersed in the Cu-SCR catalyst and the additional de-NOx performance of BaO was affected by the reduction reaction of the Cu-SCR catalyst. Among the three catalysts, the 7Cu-15Ba/Zeolyst SCR catalyst was resistant to thermal degradation. The same type of CuO due to thermal degradation migrates and agglomerates because BaO reduces the agglomeration of the main catalyst CuO particles.

• Clean Technology
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.286-292
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• 2020

This study confirmed the effect of the Cu/CeO2-X catalyst on the CO oxidation activity at low temperature through the catalyst's structure and reaction characteristics. The catalyst was prepared by the wet impregnation method. Cu/CeO2_X catalysts were manufactured by loading Cu (active metal) using CeO2 (support) formed at different calcination temperatures (300-600 ℃). Manufactured Cu/CeO2_X catalysts were evaluated for the low-temperature activity of carbon monoxide. The Cu/CeO2_300 catalyst showed an activity of 90% at 125 ℃, but the activity gradually decreased as the calcination temperature of the CeO2-X and Cu/CeO2_600 catalysts showed an activity of 65% at 125 ℃. Raman, XRD, H2-TPR, and XPS analysis confirmed the physicochemical properties of the catalysts. Based on the XPS analysis, the lower the calcination temperature of the CeO2 was, the higher the unstable Ce3+ species (non-stoichiometric species) ratio became. The increased Ce3+ species formed a solid solution bond between Cu and CeO2-X, and it was confirmed by the change of the CeO2 peak in Raman analysis and the reduction peak of the solid solution structure in H2-TPR analysis. According to the result, the formation of the solid solution bond between Cu and Ce has been enhanced by the redox properties of the catalysts and by CO oxidation activity at low temperatures.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.25 no.3
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• pp.227-233
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• 2014

Simulated waste-derived synthesis gas has been tested for hydrogen production through water-gas shift (WGS) reaction over supported Cu catalysts prepared by co-precipitation method. $CeO_2$, $ZrO_2$, MgO, and $Al_2O_3$ were employed as supports for WGS reaction in this study. $Cu-CeO_2$ catalyst exhibited excellent catalytic activity as well as 100% $CO_2$ selectivity for WGS in severe conditions ($GHSV=40,206h^{-1}$ and CO concentration = 38.0%). In addition, $Cu-CeO_2$ catalyst showed stable CO conversion for 20h without detectable catalyst deactivation. The high activity and stability of $Cu-CeO_2$ catalyst are correlated to its easier reducibility, high oxygen mobility/storage capacity of $CeO_2$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.27 no.6
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• pp.555-564
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• 2016

In recent years, methanol has attracted much attention since it can be cleanly manufactured by the combined use of atmospheric $CO_2$ recycling and water splitting via renewable energy. For the concept of "methanol economy", an active methanol synthesis catalyst should be prepared in a sophisticated manner rather than by empirical optimization approach. Even though Cu/ZnO-based catalysts prepared by coprecipitation are well known and have been extensively investigated even for a century, fundamental understanding on the precipitation chemistry and catalyst nanostructure has recently been achieved due to complexity of the necessary preparation steps such as precipitation, ageing, filtering, washing, drying, calcination and reduction. Herein we review the recent reports regarding the effects of various synthesis variables in each step on the physicochemical properties of materials in precursor, calcined and reduced states. The relationship between these characteristics and the catalytic performance will also be discussed because many variables in each step strongly influence the final catalytic activity, called "chemical memory". All discussion focuses on how to prepare a highly active Cu/ZnO-based catalyst for methanol synthesis. Furthermore, the preparation strategy we deliver here would be utilized for designing other coprecipitation-derived supported metal or metal oxide catalysts.

• Clean Technology
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• v.25 no.1
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• pp.1-6
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• 2019

Effects of the Cu and K addition and the reduction condition of Fe-based catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch reaction are studied in a continuous flow reactor in this research. The catalysts for the reaction were prepared by homogeneous precipitation followed by incipient wetness impregnation. Physicochemical properties of the $Al_2O_3$ supported Fe-based catalysts are characterized by various methods including X-ray diffraction (XRD), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Catalytic activities and stabilities of the Fe/Cu/K catalyst are investigated in time-on-stream for an extended reaction time over 216 h. It is found that a reduction of the catalysts using a mixture of CO and $H_2$ can promote their catalytic activities, attributed to the iron carbides formed on the catalysts surface by X-ray diffraction analysis. The addition of Cu induces a fast stabilization of the reaction reducing the time to reach at the steady state by enhancement of catalytic reduction. The addition of K to the catalysts increases the CO conversion, while the physical stability of catalyst decreases with potassium loading up to 5%. The Fe/Cu (5%)/K (1%) catalyst shows an enhanced long term stability for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction under the practical reaction condition, displaying about 15% decrease in the CO conversion after 120 h of the operation.

• Clean Technology
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.9-16
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• 2021

Since the active matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) encapsulation process is very vulnerable to moisture and oxygen, high-purity nitrogen with minimal moisture and oxygen must be used. In this study, a copper-based catalyst used to remove oxygen from nitrogen in the AMOLED encapsulation process was optimized. Two-component and three-component catalysts composed of CuO, Al2O3, or ZnO were prepared through a co-precipitation method. The prepared catalysts were characterized by using BET, XRD, TPR, and XRF analysis. In order to verify the oxygen removal performance of the catalyst, several catalytic reactions were conducted in a fixed bed reactor, and the corresponding oxygen contents were measured through an oxygen analyzer. In addition, reusability of the catalysts was proven through repetitive regeneration. The properties and oxygen removal capacity of the catalysts prepared with CuO and Al2O3 ratios of 6 : 4, 7 : 3, and 8 : 2 were compared. The number of active sites of the catalyst with a ratio of CuO and Al2O3 of 8 : 2 was the highest among the 2-component catalysts. Moreover, the reducibility of the catalyst with a ratio of CuO and Al2O3 of 8 : 2 was the best as it had the highest CuO dispersion. As a result, the oxygen removal ability of the catalyst with a ratio of CuO and Al2O3 of 8 : 2 was the best among the 2-component catalysts. The best oxygen removal capacity was obtained when 2wt% of ZnO was added to the sub-optimized catalyst (i.e., CuO : Al2O3 = 8 : 2) probably due to its outstanding reducibility. Furthermore, the optimized catalyst kept its performance during a couple of regeneration tests.

• Transactions of the Korean hydrogen and new energy society
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.155-170
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• 2003

$Cu-Ce/{\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ based catalysts were prepared and tested for selective oxidation of CO in a $H_2$-rich stream(1% CO, 1% $O_2$, 60% $H_2$, $N_2$ as balance). The effects of Cu loading and weight ratio(=Cu/(Cu+Ce)) upon both activity and selectivity were investigated upon the change in temperatures, It was also examined how the activity and selectivity of catalysts were varied with the presence of $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ in the reactant feed. Among the various Cu-Ce catalysts with different catalytic metal composition, Cu-Ce(4 : 16 wf%) /${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$ catalyst showed the highest activity(>$T_{99}$) and selectivities(50-80%) under wide range of temperatures($175-220^{\circ}C$). However, in the Cu-Ce(4 : 16 wt%)/ ${\gamma}-Al_2O_3$, the presence of $CO_2$ and $H_2O$ in the reactant feed decreased the activity and the maximum activity(>$T_{99}$) in terms of reaction temperature moved by about $25^{\circ}C$ toward higher temperature, the $T_{>99}$ window was seen between $210-230^{\circ}C$ (selectivity 50-75%). From $CO_2-/H_2O-TPD$, it can be concluded that the main cause for the decrease in catalytic activity may be attributed to the blockage of the active sites by competitive adsorption of water vapor and $CO_2$ with the reactant at low temperatures.

• Journal of the Korean Institute of Electrical and Electronic Material Engineers
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• v.23 no.8
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• pp.622-626
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• 2010

Cu doped $SnO_2$ thick films for gas sensors were fabricated by screen printing method on alumina substrates and annealed at $500^{\circ}C$ in air, respectively. Structural properties of $SnO_2$ by X-ray diffraction showed (110), (101) and (211) dominant tetragonal phase. The effects of catalyst Cu in $SnO_2$-based gas sensors were investigated. Sensitivity of $SnO_2$:Cu sensors to 2,000 ppm $CO_2$ gas and 50 ppm $H_2S$ gas was investigated for various Cu concentration. The highest sensitivity to $CO_2$ gas and $H_2S$ gas of Cu doped $SnO_2$ gas sensors was observed at the 8 wt% and 12 wt% Cu concentration, respectively. The improved sensitivity in the Cu doped $SnO_2$ gas sensors was explained by decrease of electron depletion region in Cu and $SnO_2$ junction, and increase of reactive oxygen and surface area in the $SnO_2$.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.394-399
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• 2015

In this study, the Cu catalyst decorated with activated carbon fibers were prepared for improving $SO_2$ adsorption properties. Flame retardant and heat treatments of Lyocell fibers were carried out to obtain carbon fibers with high yield. The prepared carbon fibers were activated by KOH solution for the high specific surface area and controlled pore size to improve $SO_2$ adsorption properties. Copper nitrate was also used to introduce the Cu catalyst on the activated carbon fibers (ACFs), which can induce various reactions in the process; i) copper nitrate promotes the decomposition reaction of oxygen group on the carbon fiber and ii) oxygen radical is generated by the decomposition of copper oxide and nitrates to promote the activation reaction of carbon fibers. As a result, the micro and meso pores were formed and Cu catalysts evenly distributed on ACFs. By Cu-impregnation process, both the specific surface area and micropore volume of carbon fibers increased over 10% compared to those of ACFs only. Also, this resulted in an increase in $SO_2$ adsorption capacity over 149% than that of using the raw ACF. The improvement in $SO_2$ adsorption properties may be originated from the synergy effect of two properties; (i) the physical adsorption from micro, meso and specific surface area due to the transition metal catalyst effect appeared during Cu-impregnation process and ii) the chemical adsorption of $SO_2$ gas promoted by the Cu catalyst on ACFs.

• Clean Technology
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.293-300
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• 2018

Sulfamethoxazole (SMX) is sulfaamide-based synthetic antibiotics, which are widely prescribed pharmaceutical compound to treat bacterial infections in both human and animals. Most of them are not completely decomposed as refractory substances. The environmental impact of pharmaceuticals as emerging contaminants has generated severe concerns. In this study, catalytic wet peroxide oxidation (CWPO) of SMX was carried out with $Cu/Al_2O_3$ catalyst and investigated the optimum reaction conditions of temperature, dosage of catalyst and concentration of $H_2O_2$ to completely decompose the SMX. It was observed that SMX was completely decomposed within 20 min using 0.79 mM $H_2O_2$ and 6 g $Cu/Al_2O_3$ catalyst at 1 atm and $40^{\circ}C$, but SMX was not fully mineralized and converted to intermediates as hydroylated-SMX, sulfanilic acid, 4-aminobenzenesulfinic acid and nitrobenzene. After that these are completely mineralized through organic acid. We proposed the decomposition reaction path ways of SMX by analyzing the behavior of these intermediates. To investigate the durability of heterogeneous catalyst, decomposition of SMX was observed by continuously recycling catalysts. When the heterogeneous catalyst of 10 wt% $Cu/Al_2O_3$ was continuously reused 5 times, decomposition of SMX was a little lowered, but the activity of catalyst was overall very stable.