Mechanism of the noncatalytic oxidation of soot using in situ transmission electron microscopy

Ming Gao; Yongjun Jang; Lu Ding; Yunfei Gao; Sheng Dai; Zhenghua Dai; Guangsuo Yu; Wenming Yang; Fuchen Wang

doi:10.1038/s41467-023-41726-4

Mechanism of the noncatalytic oxidation of soot using in situ transmission electron microscopy

Nat Commun. 2023 Oct 6;14(1):6256. doi: 10.1038/s41467-023-41726-4.

Authors

Ming Gao^{1

2

3}, Yongjun Jang⁴, Lu Ding^{5

6}, Yunfei Gao^{1

3}, Sheng Dai⁷, Zhenghua Dai^{1

3}, Guangsuo Yu^{1

3}, Wenming Yang⁸, Fuchen Wang^{9

10}

Affiliations

¹ Institute of Clean Coal Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.
² Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore.
³ Engineering Research Center of Resource Utilization of Carbon-containing Waste with Low-carbon Emissions, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.
⁴ Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China.
⁵ Institute of Clean Coal Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China. dinglu@ecust.edu.cn.
⁶ Engineering Research Center of Resource Utilization of Carbon-containing Waste with Low-carbon Emissions, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China. dinglu@ecust.edu.cn.
⁷ Key Laboratory for Advanced Materials and Feringa Nobel Prize Scientist Joint Research Center, Institute of Fine Chemicals, School of Chemistry & Molecular Engineering, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China. shengdai@ecust.edu.cn.
⁸ Department of Mechanical Engineering, National University of Singapore, Singapore, 117576, Singapore. mpeywm@nus.edu.sg.
⁹ Institute of Clean Coal Technology, East China University of Science and Technology, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China. wfch@ecust.edu.cn.
¹⁰ Engineering Research Center of Resource Utilization of Carbon-containing Waste with Low-carbon Emissions, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, 200237, P.R. China. wfch@ecust.edu.cn.

Abstract

Soot generation is a major challenge in industries. The elimination of soot is particularly crucial to reduce pollutant emissions and boost carbon conversion. The mechanisms for soot oxidation are complex, with quantified models obtained under in situ conditions still missing. We prepare soot samples via noncatalytic partial oxidation of methane. Various oxidation models are established based on the results of in situ transmission electron microscopy experiments. A quantified maturity parameter is proposed and used to categorize the soot particles according to the nanostructure at various maturity levels, which in turn lead to different oxidation mechanisms. To tackle the challenges in the kinetic analysis of soot aggregates, a simplification model is proposed and soot oxidation rates are quantified. In addition, a special core-shell separation model is revealed through in situ analysis and kinetic studies. In this study, we obtain important quantified models for soot oxidation under in situ conditions.

Abstract

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