Catalytic Degradation of Ethyl Acetate Over Ni/Nac Monolithic Catalyst at Room-Temperature

Ethyl acetate, a typical oxygen-containing volatile organic compounds (OVOCs) pollutant with a pungent odor and low toxicity, is still a great challenge to catalyze degradation at room temperature. Here, nitrogen-doped activated carbon loading Ni monolithic catalysts prepared by the one-pot impregnation method at an annealing temperature of 900°C (Ni/NAC-900) achieved the 100% removal of ethyl acetate and 67.15% CO2 selectivity within 50.5 h at 25°C. The result of XRD proved the monolithic catalysts contained Ni single atoms and Ni NPs, of which the Ni single atoms accounted for 92% of the total Ni elements. The XAFs characterization results showed that the active site structure of Ni single atoms was NiN4C2 coordination structure. Hydroxyl radicals (·OH) converted by O2 and H2O in the air on the atomically dispersed NiN4C2 catalytic centers resulted in the breakage of the C-O bond and C-C bond, which eventually cause the oxidation of ethyl acetate to CO2 and H2O. The findings provide fresh insights into the degradation of ethyl acetate with high efficiency, low consumption and in a safe manner.