NaOH-embedded three-dimensional porous boron nitride for efficient formaldehyde removal

Volatile organic compounds, especially formaldehyde (HCHO), are considered to be great sources of contaminants in indoor air. However, design and preparation of safe, cost-affordable, and reusable materials for HCHO removal at ambient conditions are still remarkably challenging. Here, we have developed a kind of novel NaOH-embedded three-dimensional porous boron nitride (NaOH-3D BN) with high and hierarchical porosities, which exhibit excellent removal performance for HCHO. The as-prepared 3D BN is used as an adsorbent and catalytic support, while the embedded NaOH is applied as a catalyst, giving rise to catalytic transformation from high-toxic HCHO to less-toxic formate and methoxy salts at room temperature. Furthermore, their effective reusability has been confirmed. Given the high removal and reusability performance as well as no use of precious materials, the NaOH-3D BN is envisaged to be valuable practically for indoor air purification.

Boron Nitride Supported Metal Catalysts: Influence of the Metal and Preparation Method

In this study we report on the preparation and characterization of boron nitride supported noble metal catalysts with potential applications as catalysts for oxidation reactions. The deposition and the dispersion of the active phase were strongly influenced by the preparation process and in particular by the solvent used as the dispersing phase. Techniques such as BET, XRD and TEM were used to study the role played by the phase used as solvent (benzene, glyme, water, THF, diglyme, isopropanol, glycol) in particles size and dispersion of metals deposed on the BN support. Different palladium depositions under various conditions and different noble metal coatings under the same deposition condition are presented. The catalytic performances were tested in methane traces oxidation in excess oxygen and in the presence of water. The light-off temperature (50 % methane conversion) increased in the following order: Ag/BN < Pt/BN < Au/BN < Pd /BN.