Potential of Ge-adopted Boron Nitride Nanotube as Catalyst for Sulfur Dioxide Oxidation

Abstract

In recent years, the discovery of efficient catalyst with low price to sulfur dioxide (SO₂) oxidation in normal temperature is a major concern in the industry. In present study, in first step the boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) with Ge were adopted and the surface of Ge-adopted BNNT via O₂ molecule were activated. In second step the SO₂ oxidation on activated Ge-BNNT surface via Langmuir Hinshelwood (LH) and Eley Rideal (ER) mechanisms was investigated. Results show that O₂ activated Ge-BNNT surface can oxide the SO₂ molecule via Ge-BNNT-O-O* + SO₂ → Ge-BNNT-O-O*-SO₂ → Ge-BNNT-O* + SO₃ and Ge-BNNT-O* + SO₂ → Ge-BNNT + SO₃ reactions. Results show that SO₂ oxidation on activated Ge-BNNT surface via the LH mechanism has lower energy barrier than ER mechanism. Finally, calculated parameters reveal that activated Ge-BNNT is acceptable catalyst with low price and high performance for SO₂ oxidation in normal temperature.