Date of Award
1-1-2009
Degree Name
Master of Science
Department
Mechanical Engineering
First Advisor
Wiltowski, Tomasz
Abstract
The photocatalytic conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) to methanol was investigated. The procedure for the carbon dioxide conversion was carried out using a small scale filter type photocatalytic reactor. In conducting the experiments, carbon dioxide mixed with water vapor was discharged into the photocatalytic reactor in the presence of a catalyst and light irradiation from a UV lamp for conversion to methanol. The catalyst that were used for the experiments were titanium dioxide (titania) and copper-loaded titania which were impregnated on a ceramic filter that was initially treated with gamma-alumina which was a good catalyst support for the catalyst. SEM, XRD and particle size analysis was performed as a means of characterization of the catalyst. The effect of the flow rate of carbon dioxide on the conversion process using a UV lamp with a wavelength of 254 nm was studied.
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