Recent advancements and challenges in the catalytic purification of volatile organic compounds

Abstract

With the development of industrialization, the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are steadily increasing, posing a significant risk to atmospheric quality and public health. Catalytic oxidation can be a promising technology for VOC purification owing to its high efficiency and energy-saving advantages. Over the past few decades, the development of catalysts with excellent activity and lower degradation temperature for VOCs has been the main purpose of research. The research goal is gradually refined and changed as research deepens. In consideration of different types of pollutants and their actual sources, the challenges in catalyst design become more specific and practical, such as the improvement of catalyst stability, the inhibition of the generation of harmful by-products and the enhancement of resistance to impurity poisoning. Meanwhile, it is necessary to develop catalysts for simultaneous control of multiple pollutants. Concurrently, some new technologies have become research hotspots, including hydrolysis oxidation technology for CVOCs and ozone oxidation technology for VOCs. In this review, the latest advancements in the catalytic degradation of various VOCs are discussed and insights into future research directions for novel materials and technologies in VOC catalytic oxidation are further provided.