Evaluation of γ-MnO2 as a VOC removal catalyst:: Comparison with a noble metal catalyst

The performances of two very active catalysts for VOC removal (one metal oxide and one noble metal catalyst, namely gamma-MnO2 and Pt/TiO2) are compared. The comparison takes into account not only the activity but also the sensitivity to competition effects between compounds, the influence of water vapor and the stability. The metal oxide catalyst proves to be more active than the supported noble metal one. Moreover, its performance is less affected by interferences between VOC's than those of the noble metal catalyst. Conversely, the activity of the noble metal appears slightly more stable. Both are affected by water vapor which slightly decreases their efficiency. On the metal oxide catalyst, water shortens the time needed to get a stable catalytic activity. (C) 1998 Academic Press.