Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are harmful to environment and human health. Catalytic oxidation has been used in VOC abatement for over 60 years, and it has proven to be an effective technology. A large variety of VOCs set high demands for the treatment, and therefore catalytic oxidation needs still to be developed further. This paper reviews current aspects and future research needs related to VOCs and catalytic VOC treatment concentrating on solvent-based, chlorinated and sulphur-containing VOCs.

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Abstract:The treatment of volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions is a necessity of today. The catalytic treatment has already proven to be environmentally and economically sound technology for the total oxidation of the VOCs. However, in certain cases, it may also become economical to utilize these emissions in some profitable way. Currently, the most common way to utilize the VOC emissions is their use in energy production. However, interesting possibilities are arising from the usage of VOCs in hydrogen and syngas production. Production of chemicals from VOC emissions is still mainly at the research stage. However, few commercial examples exist. This review will summarize the commercially existing VOC utilization possibilities, present the utilization applications that are in the research stage and introduce some novel ideas related to the catalytic utilization possibilities of the VOC emissions. In general, there exist a vast number of possibilities for VOC OPEN ACCESSCatalysts 2015, 5 1093 utilization via different catalytic processes, which creates also a good research potential for the future.

Abstract:In this work, silica-titania supported catalysts were prepared by a sol-gel method with various compositions. Vanadia was impregnated on SiO 2 -TiO 2 with different loadings, and materials were investigated in the partial oxidation of methanol and methyl mercaptan to formaldehyde. The materials were characterized by using N 2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Scanning transmission electron microscope (STEM), NH 3 -TPD, and Raman techniques. The activity results show the high importance of an optimized SiO 2 -TiO 2 ratio to reach a high reactant conversion and formaldehyde yield. The characteristics of mixed oxides ensure a better dispersion of the active phase on the support and in this way increase the activity of the catalysts. The addition of vanadium pentoxide on the support lowered the optimal temperature of the reaction significantly. Increasing the vanadia loading from 1.5% to 2.5% did not result in higher formaldehyde concentration. Over the 1.5%V 2 O 5 /SiO 2 + 30%TiO 2 catalyst, the optimal selectivity was reached at 415 • C when the maximum formaldehyde concentration was~1000 ppm.

14The aim of the work was to prepare nanosized In2O3 and Ga2O3 photocatalysts for degradation of 15Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in water. Their commercial references along with TiO2 were used as 16 a comparison basis. The characterization of the materials proved that successful preparation of cubic 17In2O3 and monoclinic ß-Ga2O3 were achieved via solvothermal and hydrothermal methods, 18 respectively. The effect of different parameters such as catalyst dosage, UV light source and 19 utilization of inorganic oxidant in PFOA treatment were evaluated. In2O3, photocatalyst was the most 20 efficient in the degradation of 15 mgL -1 PFOA under UVB irradiation and synthetic air reaching 27% 21 of degradation, which was 20 percentage points higher than for commercial In2O3. This is proposed 22 to be partly due to significantly higher specific surface area of the self-made In2O3 and smaller 23 crystallite size and partly due to more efficient absorption of UVB light compared to the other tested 24 materials. Addition of KBrO3 did not improve the activity of self-made In2O3.