아세트알데히드 제거를 위한 Mn-Cu 금속촉매 실용화에 관한 연구

Practical Application of Mn-Cu Metal Catalyst for the Removal of Acetaldehyde

악취는 사람마다 느끼는 정도가 다르므로 법적 배출허용농도 이내로 배출된다고 하더라도 민원 발생 시 사회적으로 이슈화가 되는 특징이 있다. 본 연구는 산업공정에서 발생된 악취중의 아세트알데히드를 경제적으로 제거하기 위해 Mn-Cu 금속산화물 촉매의 실용화 가능성에 관한 연구이며, 실험실에서 성능평가를 통해 아세트알데히드 제거를 위한 최적 운전인자를 도출하였고, 파일럿 규모의 Scale-up을 통한 현장 실험으로 실제규모 시설에 적용하여 성능을 검증하였다. 지금까지 연구되어진 금속산화물 촉매의 운전온도는 최소 $220^{\circ}C$ 근방에서 아세트알데히드 제거효율이 50% 이하였다. 그러나 본 연구에서 Mn-Cu 금속산화물 촉매를 사용하여 실험한 결과 공간속도(GHSV)가 6,000 $hr^{-1}$ 이하일 때 최적의 제거효율을 보였으며, 촉매제어 온도가 $120^{\circ}C$일 때 평균 제거효율은 61.2%, $160^{\circ}C$에서는 93.3%, $180^{\circ}C$에서는 94.9%로 높은 제거효율을 보였다. 촉매의 비표면적은 사용 전 $200m^2/g$이었으나 24개월 경과 시 $47.162m^2/g$으로 나타나 비표면적은 시간이 지남에 따라 줄어들지만 성능에는 큰 영향이 없었고, 황화합물과 산성가스 등과 같은 피독물질이 유입되지 않는 현장에서 Mn-Cu 금속산화물 촉매장치를 2년 이상 운전한 결과 90% 이상의 제거효율이 유지되고 있는 것을 확인할 수 있었다.

Because sensing odor varies depending on each person, even if the odor is released in line with the legal emission permission concentration levels, it can still become a social issue if a civil complaint is made. The purpose of this research is to study the possibility of putting Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalysts into practical use to economically eliminate acetaldehyde which produces a odor in the industrial process. An optimal operating parameter to eliminate acetaldehyde was deduced through a performance evaluation in the research laboratory and the performance was verified by applying the parameter into an actual facility as an on-the-site experiment through a Scale-up of pilot size. The operating temperature of the metallic oxide catalysts researched so far was at the minimum close to $220^{\circ}C$, and the $220^{\circ}C$ elimination efficiency was 50% or below. However, having experimented by using a Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalyst in this research, optimum elimination efficiency showed when space velocity (GHSV) was equal to or below 6,000 $hr^{-1}$. The average elimination efficiency was 61.2% when the catalyst controlling temperature was $120^{\circ}C$, 93.3% when the catalyst controlling temperature was $160^{\circ}C$, and 94.9% when catalyst controlling temperature was $180^{\circ}C$, thereby reflecting high elimination efficiency. The specific surface area of the catalyst was $200m^2/g$ before use, however, was reduced to $47.162m^2/g$ after 24 months and therefore showed that despite the decrease in specific surface area as time passed, there was no significant influence on the performance. Having operated Mn-Cu metallic oxide catalyst systems for at least two years on a site where there was no inflow of toxins like sulfur compounds and acidic gases, we were able to confirm that elimination efficiency of at least 90% was maintained.