Catalytic Oxidtion of Halogenated Hydrocarbons

The control of trace contaminants is carried out by a combination of activated carbon absorption and catalytic oxidation. The carbon bed absorbs most hydrocarbons and CHCs, while the catalytic oxidizer removes the methane and CO which cannot be absorbed. Because carbon has little affinity for CHCs, and because no current catalysts oxidize CHCs at reasonable temperatures, the large carbon bed used to absorb the CHCs must be replaced every three months. Periodic replacement of the carbon bed is one of the top thirty maintenance items on Space Station Freedom. To reduce the frequency with which the bed must be replaced, TDA Research will develop and test novel metal oxide based catalysts to determine whether they can oxidize CHCs at reasonable temperatures, in the presence of water, and without the production of toxic by-products. These new catalysts can potentially operate at temperatures 200@C lower than current platinum catalysts.