Revisiting the Behaviour of Vanadia-Based Catalysts in the Abatement of (Chloro)-Aromatic Pollutants: Towards an Integrated Understanding

For several years, the authors study VO (x) /TiO2 catalytic formulations in the context of the oxidative abatement of aromatics, possibly chlorinated, from polluted air. This paper revisits their main findings and understandings. Although VO (x) /TiO2 catalysts, when upgraded with Mo or W oxides, are already used in industrial applications, it is shown that the systematic investigation (i) of the reasons why optimized synthesis and formulations are indeed efficient, (ii) of the nature of the sites responsible for the adsorption of the pollutants and their catalytic transformation, and (iii) of the corresponding mechanisms, is a valuable approach to identify guidelines and strategies for further improving the catalysts. The origin of the beneficial effects brought by WO (x) and MoO (x) to VO (x) /TiO2, and by the use of a sulphated titania support, is addressed, as well as the impact on the catalysts behaviour and performances of molecules inevitably present in a combustion exhaust gas, like CO and NO (x) co-pollutants and water. The behaviours of a chloro-aromatic molecule, like chlorobenzene, and an oxygen containing-heterocyclic molecule, like furan and dimethylfuran, are then compared and discussed in the debate of their selection as representative model compounds for the catalytic abatement of dioxins. In this context, it is shown that strategies developed to improve the performances of VO (x) /TiO2 formulations to abate Cl-aromatics, could be detrimental for cyclic molecules containing O-heteroatom, as entire dioxins. Finally, an integrated view of the catalytic process is presented by envisaging the case of a complex mixture, closer to the real application of gaseous effluent cleaning.