Research Progress on Catalytic Oxidation of Nitrogen-containing Volatile Organic Compounds

doi:10.15541/jim20240511

Abstract

Abstract:

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and NO_x are important precursors of PM_2.5 and O₃, and their excessive emissions have significant negative impacts on environmental quality and human health. Compared with ordinary VOCs, nitrogen-containing volatile organic compounds (N-VOCs) need more complex environmental control strategies due to their nitrogen heteroatoms. Therefore, development and application of control technologies for N-VOCs have become a current research hotspot. In order to achieve the two key objectives of low-temperature high catalytic activity and high N₂ selectivity in catalytic oxidation system of N-VOCs, there is an urgent need to design efficient and low-cost catalysts. This paper systematically summarizes the research progress of mineral materials, metal materials, single atom catalysts (SACs) and molecular sieves in catalytic oxidation of common N-VOCs (N,N-dimethylformamide, acrylonitrile, acetonitrile, n-butylamine, triethylamine, etc.), and describes the sources and hazards of N-VOCs. The key factors affecting catalytic oxidation of amines, nitriles and other typical N-VOCs are summarized, including catalytic activity, catalyst physicochemical properties, catalytic constitutive relationship and reaction mechanism. It is proposed that secondary pollutants should be avoided from deep oxidation of intermediate products in catalytic oxidation of N-VOCs. Finally, the prospects and challenges on catalytic oxidation of N-VOCs are discussed, aiming to provide theoretical guidance and practical cases for clearing N-VOCs in the future.

Key words: nitrogen-containing volatile organic compound, catalytic oxidation, catalyst, N₂ selectivity, reaction mechanism, review

CLC Number:

O643

LIU Jiangping, GUAN Xin, TANG Zhenjie, ZHU Wenjie, LUO Yongming. Research Progress on Catalytic Oxidation of Nitrogen-containing Volatile Organic Compounds[J]. Journal of Inorganic Materials, 2025, 40(9): 933-943.

Figures/Tables 10

References 82

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N-VOCs	Catalyst	Conversion rate, temperature	N₂ selectivity, temperature	Ref.
Triethylamine	CuO/Nb₂O₅-H	100%, 220 ℃	96%, 220 ℃	[61]
Diethylamine	CuO/CeO₂/ZSM-5	100%, 220 ℃	100%, 220 ℃	[62]
DMF	Cu-Ce/H-MOR	99%, 220 ℃	100%, 220 ℃	[63]
DMF	Ag/CeO₂	90%, 158 ℃	80%, 237 ℃	[40]
DMF	Cu-ZSM-5	100%, 300 ℃	95%, 300 ℃	[49]
Butylamine	Cu-Mn/ZSM-5	100%, 280 ℃	>82%, 280 ℃	[64]
Butylamine	CeCu10%ZrO_x	100%, 250 ℃	90%, 250 ℃	[59]
Butylamine	Cu-ZSM-5	100%, 300 ℃	>95%, 350 ℃	[60]
Butylamine	Cu-Mn/SAPO-34	90%, 279 ℃	99%, 279 ℃	[65]
Butylamine	CuO/Pd@SiO₂	100%, 260 ℃	98.3%, 260 ℃	[66]
Acetonitrile	CuCeO_x-HZSM-5	100%, 225 ℃	93%, 225 ℃	[54]
Acetonitrile	Cu-Ce/ZSM-5	100%, 300 ℃	90%, 300 ℃	[67]

N-VOCs	Catalyst	Conversion rate, temperature	N₂ selectivity, temperature	Ref.
Triethylamine	CuO/Nb₂O₅-H	100%, 220 ℃	96%, 220 ℃	[61]
Diethylamine	CuO/CeO₂/ZSM-5	100%, 220 ℃	100%, 220 ℃	[62]
DMF	Cu-Ce/H-MOR	99%, 220 ℃	100%, 220 ℃	[63]
DMF	Ag/CeO₂	90%, 158 ℃	80%, 237 ℃	[40]
DMF	Cu-ZSM-5	100%, 300 ℃	95%, 300 ℃	[49]
Butylamine	Cu-Mn/ZSM-5	100%, 280 ℃	>82%, 280 ℃	[64]
Butylamine	CeCu10%ZrO_x	100%, 250 ℃	90%, 250 ℃	[59]
Butylamine	Cu-ZSM-5	100%, 300 ℃	>95%, 350 ℃	[60]
Butylamine	Cu-Mn/SAPO-34	90%, 279 ℃	99%, 279 ℃	[65]
Butylamine	CuO/Pd@SiO₂	100%, 260 ℃	98.3%, 260 ℃	[66]
Acetonitrile	CuCeO_x-HZSM-5	100%, 225 ℃	93%, 225 ℃	[54]
Acetonitrile	Cu-Ce/ZSM-5	100%, 300 ℃	90%, 300 ℃	[67]

Catalyst category	Vantage	Drawback	Representative substance
Precious metals	High catalytic activity and high stability	Scarce resources and high costs	Pt, Ag, Pd
Transition metals	High selectivity, reproducibility, and low costs	Inactivation issues and toxic by-products	Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Al
Molecular sieves	High adsorption capacity, high selectivity, and high temperature resistance	Easy enrichment of NH₃ on the surface of pure molecular sieves	ZSM-5, SBA-15
Mineral materials	Unique structure, high adsorption capacity, and low costs	Many ingredients and impurities	Calcite, mullite, spinel
SACs	High atom utilization, high selectivity, and reproducibility	Being difficult to prepare	-

Catalyst category	Vantage	Drawback	Representative substance
Precious metals	High catalytic activity and high stability	Scarce resources and high costs	Pt, Ag, Pd
Transition metals	High selectivity, reproducibility, and low costs	Inactivation issues and toxic by-products	Cu, Mn, Fe, Co, Al
Molecular sieves	High adsorption capacity, high selectivity, and high temperature resistance	Easy enrichment of NH₃ on the surface of pure molecular sieves	ZSM-5, SBA-15
Mineral materials	Unique structure, high adsorption capacity, and low costs	Many ingredients and impurities	Calcite, mullite, spinel
SACs	High atom utilization, high selectivity, and reproducibility	Being difficult to prepare	-