A novel method of microwave heating mixed liquid-assisted regeneration of V₂O₅-WO₃/TiO₂ commercial SCR catalysts.

An experimental study on the regeneration of deactivated SCR catalysts was carried out using a microwave-assisted method containing three steps of washing with mixed liquid of ethanol and water, impregnating, and drying. After the regeneration treatment, NO conversion at 320 °C increased from 39 to 90% and vanadium content increased by 62.2%, which were much higher than those regenerated by the traditional method. The more impregnated vanadium was due to the fact that the rapid evaporation of mixed liquid inside the catalyst channels led to the enlargement of surface areas by creating more pores on the catalysts. Meanwhile, with the increasing concentrations of ethanol, the heating rate of the mixed liquid increased, and the volume after complete evaporation of the mixed liquid was gradually reduced. Since higher heating rate and lager volume after the liquid evaporation could help to create more pores, therefore, when the volume ratio of ethanol/mixed solution was 20%, the catalyst obtained the maximum specific surface area, which significantly increased to ca. 123% compared with the deactivated catalyst. In addition, the catalyst dried by microwave exhibited better catalytic activity than that dried in conventional oven. Therefore, this method showed great potential in industrial applications.