Reduction of [Fe(III)EDTA]− catalyzed by activated carbon modified with KOH solution

NO and SO2 can be eliminated simultaneously by [Fe(II)EDTA]2− solution with a pH range of 5.6–8.0 at 25–80 °C. Activated carbon is used to catalyze the regeneration of [Fe(II)EDTA]2−. In this paper, KOH solution has been utilized to modify the carbon to improve its catalytic capability. Experimental results show that the optimal modification factors are as follow: KOH concentration 6.0 mol l−1, impregnation time 9 h, activation temperature 700 °C and activation time 4 h. After KOH modification, the surface area of activated carbon decreases. But its basicity is enhanced, which plays an important role in improving the catalytic characteristics of activated carbon in the reduction of [Fe(III)EDTA]−. The experimental results demonstrate that the activated carbon modified by concentrated KOH solution can get a higher NO removal efficiency than the original activated carbon.