Multi-metal oxide aerogel for capture of pollution gases from air

Utilization of fossil fuels results in the emission of pollution gases such as CO2, SO2, CO, NOx and H2S. Currently available commercial technologies for reducing SO2 and NOx emissions from power plants are costly and produce hazardous wastes. The concept described in this paper uses advanced aerogel materials containing components such as CaO and MgO in their structure to capture/adsorb gaseous wastes from fossil fuel combustion. Aerogels are typically highly porous materials, which can have over 90% porosity, very low density, and extremely high surface area (several hundred m(2)/g). The test results of this work indicated that an aerogel sorbent containing CaO, MgO and SiO2, which is prepared in the laboratory 'by the advanced sol-gel technology', can be used efficiently to capture/adsorb pollution gases such as CO2, SO2, NOx, CO and H2S through both physical and chemical sorption mechanisms. Aerogels can be engineered to different forms, sizes, and chemical compositions to be used as gas filters in the different workplaces and indoor living spaces. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.