Thermocatalytic Degradation of Gaseous Formaldehyde Using Transition Metal-Based Catalysts

Abstract

Formaldehyde (HCHO: FA) is one of the most abundant but hazardous gaseous pollutants. Transition metal oxide (TMO)-based thermocatalysts have gained much attention in its removal due to their excellent thermal stability and cost-effectiveness. Herein, a comprehensive review is offered to highlight the current progress in TMO-based thermocatalysts (e.g., manganese, cerium, cobalt, and their composites) in association with the strategies established for catalytic removal of FA. Efforts are hence made to describe the interactive role of key factors (e.g., exposed crystal facets, alkali metal/nitrogen modification, type of precursors, and alkali/acid treatment) governing the catalytic activity of TMO-based thermocatalysts against FA. Their performance has been evaluated further between two distinctive operation conditions (i.e., low versus high temperature) based on computational metrics such as reaction rate. Accordingly, the superiority of TMO-based composite catalysts over mono- and bi-metallic TMO catalysts is evident to reflect the abundant surface oxygen vacancies and enhanced FA adsorptivity of the former group. Finally, the present challenges and future prospects for TMO-based catalysts are discussed with respect to the catalytic oxidation of FA. This review is expected to offer valuable information to design and build high performance catalysts for the efficient degradation of volatile organic compounds.