Scientists from the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Moscow State University and St. Petersburg State University, as part of an international team, have developed a fast and inexpensive method for producing catalysts to purify the air from nitrogen oxides.
According to scientists, nitrogen oxides are among the most toxic components of vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions. The new material can be manufactured in just two hours instead of several days, and it is significantly more stable than existing analogues.
Denis Pankratov, a researcher at the Laboratory of Semiconductor Oxide Materials at the Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, says: "The new synthesis method addresses several key problems at once. First, we reduce the time required to produce catalysts by tens of times. Second, we enhance the stability of the catalysts and extend their service life. Third, by selecting the properties of the zeolite matrix and the synthesis conditions, we can design the catalyst specifically for a particular task. Finally, this method can be applied to natural zeolites, which paves the way for reducing the cost of catalysts."
It should be noted that nitrogen oxides, among the most toxic air pollutants, are formed wherever combustion occurs—during the operation of cars, ships, and airplanes, as well as in thermal power plants and oil refineries. High concentrations of these toxic gases pose a risk to human health, damaging the respiratory system and increasing the risk of asthma, lung cancer, myocardial infarction, stroke, and blood clots.
Scientists have devised a way to manufacture robust catalysts using synthetic zeolite, a process that is faster and less expensive than traditional methods.
Scientists are currently studying the effect of manufacturing conditions on the size and distribution of the active nanoparticles within the pores. The next important step involves testing the material under conditions similar to those found in exhaust gas converters. If these new catalysts prove successful, they could significantly improve air quality in cities and reduce the environmental impact of the transportation and industrial sectors.
