Experimental Scale Photocatalytic Oxidation SO2 from Simulated Flue Gas in the Presence of Mn/Copper Slag as a Novel Nanocatalyst: Optimizations by Hybrid Box-Behnken Experimental Design and Genetic Algorithm

Abstract

One of the most important air pollutants from simulated flue gas is sulfur dioxide (SO₂). In this work, experimental scale photocatalytic oxidation of SO₂ as a new method was suggested on the liquid phase using manganese supported on copper slag (Mn/CS) under ultraviolet (UV) irradiation. Mn/CS recognized as novel nanocatalyst for photocatalytic oxidation of SO₂ from simulated flue gas. In this study, a column packed photocatalytic reactor (CPPCR) was applied. Firstly, the Mn/CS was perpetrated by impregnation method. Analysis of X-ray diffraction (XRD), field scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) and FTIR, were used for detection structure, morphology, size of a particle of Mn/CS nanocatalyst. FESEM analysis revealed that the manganese nanoparticles were well incorporated into the copper slag as a base. Hybrid genetic algorithm (GA) and Box–Behnken design (BBD) was used for optimization of variables, such as gas flow rate, temperature, reaction time, and SO₂ concentration. The most effective SO₂ removal achieved at the operating conditions was about 99%. Analysis of the optimization of BBD combined with GA showed that the BBD method alone is also acceptable for optimizing the SO₂ oxidation process in laboratory.