Physicochemical properties of pine-derived bio-chars modified by metal oxides and their performance in the removal of NO

Pine-derived bio-chars have been prepared at different temperatures with and without KOH chemical activation. Three metal oxides (V₂O₅, MnO and CuO) were loaded on this chars by incipient-wetness impregnation method respectively. Pine wood pellets were characterized by thermogravimetric, and pine-chars samples were characterized by SEM-EDS, XRD, N₂ physisorption and FTIR. Activity test for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃ was also carried out in dry simulated flue gas at fixed temperature 160 °C. The results show that pretreatment with KOH and carbonization at 600 °C seems to be the best method for pine-chars preparation. Active metal oxides are well distributed on the surface of carbon support and are partly reduced by carbon during preparation. The mesopores disappear in V- and Mn-containing samples, and V-addition could decrease the amount of micropores as well. At the fixed temperature 160 °C, the active metal oxides have an order of CuO > V₂O₅ >> MnO_x >> Non-modified sample on the NO reduction activity. Pine-chars modified by CuO seems to be the best option in this research.