• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.19 no.5
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• pp.574-581
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• 2008

The optimum regeneration conditions for the regeneration of three way spent catalysts (TWCs), which were taken from automobiles with different driving conditions, were investigated to evaluate the suitability as alternative catalysts for removing VOCs. The spent catalysts were washed with five different acids ($HNO_3$, $H_2SO_4$, $C_2H_2O_4$, $C_6H_8O_7$, and $H_3PO_4$) to remove contaminants and examine the optimum conditions for recovering the catalytic activity. The physicochemical properties of spent and its regenerated TWCs were evaluated by using nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms, XRD, and ICP. The relative atomic ratios of contaminants and platinum group metals (PGMs) of the spent TWCs were greatly dependent on the placed positions. The main contaminants formed were lubricant oil additives and metallic components. Also, the regeneration treatment increased the PGMs ratio, BET surface area, and average pore diameter of TWCs. The catalytic activity results indicated that the spent TWCs have the possibility for removing VOCs. Moreover, the employed acid treatments greatly enhanced the catalytic activity of the spent TWCs. Especially, nitric and oxalic acids provided the most improvement in the catalytic behavior. The catalytic activities of the regenerated TWCs were significantly influenced by the containing platinum ratios rather than the removal ratios of contaminants and the changes in the structural properties offered by the acid treatments.