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AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
InventorsGeorge M. Wood, Billy T. Upchurch, David R. Schryer, Patricia P. Davis, Erik J. Kielin, Kenneth G. Brown, Jacqueline L. Schyryer, Christine M. D'Ambrosia
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Disclosed is a process for oxidizing volatile organic compounds to carbon dioxide and water with the minimal addition of energy. A mixture of the volatile organic compound and an oxidizing agent (e.g. ambient air containing the volatile organic compound) is exposed to a catalyst which includes a noble metal dispersed on a metal oxide which possesses more than one oxidation state. Especially good results are obtained when the noble metal is platinum, and the metal oxide which possesses more than one oxidation state is tin oxide. A promoter (i.e., a small amount of an oxide of a transition series metal) may be used in association with the tin oxide to provide very beneficial results.
A process for the oxidation of volatile organic compounds to carbon dioxide and water which undergoes initiation at temperatures from about .sup.- 5.degree. C. to about 120.degree. C., which process comprises exposing a gaseous mixture comprising said volatile organic compound and an oxygen containing oxidizing agent to a catalyst comprising from about 1 to 50 weight percent, based on the total weight of the catalyst, of a noble metal selected from the group consisting of platinum, palladium, gold, silver, and rhodium, which has been dispersed on from about 50 to 99 weight percent, based on the total weight of the catalyst, of a metal oxide which possesses more than one stable oxidation state including at least tin oxide, the carbon dioxide produced from oxidation with said oxidizing agent consisting of the product of oxidizing said volatile organic compound with said noble metal tin oxide catalyst.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.