Lanthanum Cobaltate Biochar Catalyst for Microplastic Degradation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing catalytic materials used for degrading microplastics in water suffer from poor degradation efficiency, agglomeration of nano-metal particles, and difficulty in solid-liquid separation, limiting their effectiveness in treating microplastic pollution.
Innovation Solution
A preparation method involving the use of walnut shells as carriers to create a lanthanum cobaltate-biochar composite catalytic material through coprecipitation and pyrolysis, which coats lanthanum cobaltate on biochar surfaces, enhancing catalyst activity and facilitating easy recovery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If metal-based catalytic materials are used to activate peroxymonosulfate for microplastic degradation, then degradation efficiency is improved, but catalyst agglomeration and poor solid-liquid separation occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a composite catalytic material combining metal nanoparticles (Co, Ni, Cu) with biochar. The biochar serves as a support structure that prevents metal particle agglomeration while maintaining catalytic activity. This composite approach resolves the contradiction by providing both high degradation efficiency through metal catalysis and improved stability through biochar integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes biochar with its characteristic porous structure as the carrier for metal nanoparticles. The porous framework provides high surface area for catalyst dispersion, preventing agglomeration while allowing efficient mass transfer. This resolves the contradiction by maintaining catalytic productivity while improving catalyst stability through the porous biochar matrix.
2Productivity
If nano-metal particles are used as catalytic materials, then catalytic activity is improved, but particle agglomeration occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs biochar with its porous structure as a support matrix for nano-metal particles. The porous framework provides physical separation and high surface area for dispersion, preventing agglomeration while maintaining high catalytic activity. This resolves the contradiction between productivity and compositional stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where nano-metal particles are integrated with biochar. This composite approach ensures uniform dispersion of metal particles throughout the biochar matrix, preventing agglomeration while preserving catalytic activity. The synergistic combination resolves the contradiction between high activity and stable particle composition.
3Productivity
If conventional catalytic materials are used for microplastic degradation, then degradation effect is achieved, but solid-liquid separation is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses biochar with its porous structure as the carrier material. The porous framework provides high surface area for catalytic activity while maintaining good permeability and settleability in water. This resolves the contradiction by achieving effective degradation while facilitating easy solid-liquid separation through the physical properties of porous biochar.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs biochar, a readily available and inexpensive material, as the catalytic carrier. Biochar is produced from agricultural waste and is cost-effective for large-scale application. This resolves the contradiction by providing an economical solution that achieves degradation effects while enabling easy separation through its physical properties.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method produces a composite catalytic material with high catalytic activity, efficient degradation of microplastics, and easy solid-liquid separation, while utilizing waste walnut shells and minimizing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
A pH of the stirred solution is adjusted with ammonia water until lanthanum cobaltate precipitates on surfaces of walnut shell powder particles
Implementation Method 2
The cellulose and the hemicellulose are more likely to produce volatile gases such as hydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and methane (CH4) during a carbonization process. The pyrolysis of lignin mainly produces residual biochar.
Implementation Method 3
peroxymonosulfate can be activated by catalytic materials to produce sulfate radicals, which has advantages of thorough degradation, fast reaction rate, and wide range of water quality applications
Data Source
AI summary
A preparation method of a composite catalytic material for degrading microplastics in water is provided, which relates to the field of water processing technologies. The method includes: S1, cleaning, drying, pulverizing and sieving walnut shells sequentially in that order; S2, adding sieved walnut shell powder into a mixed solution containing Co(NO3)2·6H2O, La(NO3)3·6H2O and citric acid, stirring it at room temperature, adjusting a pH of the stirred solution with ammonia water until lanthanum cobaltate precipitates on surfaces of walnut shell powder particles, and heating it in a water bath until water evaporates completely; S3, drying and grinding the mixture obtained from coprecipitation in sequence, and performing pyrolysis treatment to obtain a lanthanum cobaltate biochar-based composite catalytic material. The prepared composite catalytic material is simple in preparation process, has a function of efficiently activating peroxymonosulfate, and has a good degradation effect on microplastics in water.