Reutilization of Cr-Y zeolite obtained by biosorption in the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds

This work aims at the reutilization of a Cr-loaded NaY zeolite obtained by biorecovery of chromium from water as catalyst in the oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOC). Cr-NaY catalysts were obtained after biosorption of Cr(VI) using a bacterium, Arthrobacter viscosus, supported on the zeolite. The biosorption experiments were conducted at different pH values in the range 1-4. The catalysts were characterized by several techniques, namely ICP-AES, SEM-EDS, XRD, XPS, Raman, H-2-TPR and N-2 adsorption. The zeolite obtained at pH 4 has the highest content of chromium, 0.9%, and was selected as the best catalyst for the oxidation of different VOC, namely ethyl acetate, ethanol and toluene. For all VOC tested, the catalyst with chromium showed higher activity and selectivity to CO2, in comparison with the starting zeolite NaY. The presence of chromium shifted also the reaction pathways. In terms of selectivity to CO2, the following sequence was observed: ethyl acetate > toluene > ethanol. (C) 2011 Elsevier By. All rights reserved.