Catalytic combustion of methyl ethyl ketone over paper-like microfibrous entrapped MnOx/AC catalyst

A novel MnOx-deposited paper-like stainless steel fibers entrapped activated carbon catalyst (Mn-GAC/PSSF) was synthesized by papermaking technology and incipient wetness impregnation (IM) method for methyl ethyl ketone (MEK) combustion, and Mn-deposited granular activated carbon catalyst (Mn-GAC) was prepared simultaneously as a contrast. Characterization of all the samples were carried out by using X-ray diffraction patterns (XRD), N-2 adsorption-desorption, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), H-2-Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS). SEM showed that the Mn oxides on the carbons were relatively well distributed as that on the stainless steel fibers. XPS indicated that the Mn coexisted as Mn3+ and Mn4+. The catalytic activity test for MEK combustion was carried out at atmospheric pressure in a continuous fixed bed stainless steel tube reactor, the results revealed that the Mn-GAC/PSSF catalysts were much more active than Mn-GAC catalyst due to the properties of excellent mass transfer and contacting efficiency offered by PSSF structure, and exhibited high selectivity for complete oxidation of intermediates. Catalyst with higher Mn loading presented higher catalyst activity, the conversion of MEK reached to 90% at 521 K over the 30%-MnGAC/PSSF catalysts, while it was 566 K and 530 K over the 10%-Mn-GAC/PSSF catalyst and 20%-Mn-GAC catalyst, respectively.