Catalytic abatement of emissions from small-scale combustion of wood - A comparison of the catalytic effect in model and real flue gases

The aim of this study was to evaluate a laboratory technique for testing catalysts, as well as to investigate two commercial catalysts, for total oxidation of unburnt hydrocarbons and CO in flue gases from wood combustion. The catalyst activities for oxidation of methane, naphthalene and CO in the presence of steam and carbon dioxide were measured in a laboratory flow reactor and the activity for oxidation of methane, C-2 hydrocarbons, benzene and CO in real flue gases was analysed in a 15 kW wood-fired heater. The results from the two investigations were compared to verify whether the laboratory method is a useful tool to simulate catalytic oxidation of the flue gases. The noble metal catalyst had a higher activity for naphthalene and CO than the metal oxide catalyst, and deactivation was also less pronounced for the noble metal catalyst. The emissions from the wood-fired heater were also evaluated and related to data in the literature. (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.