Comparison of Nanoscale Calcium Oxide versus Commercial Calcium Oxide with Respect to Decomposition of Carbon Tetrachloride

Abstract

The increasing amount of chlorocarbons in our environment causes a need to find an easy, effective and inexpensive way for their destruction. Calcium oxide seems to be a good choice as the adsorbing and decomposing agent. Three different types of calcium oxide were studied to determine the amount of carbon tetrachloride that could be decomposed: commercial calcium oxide, conventionally prepared calcium oxide, and autoclave prepared calcium oxide. The amount of decomposed chlorocarbon was established using gas chromatography and the products were studied by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The dependence of the surface area on the decomposition was determined. We found that the best type of calcium oxide was autoclave prepared because it decomposed the most and the decomposition started at the lowest temperature, 350°C. Some fundamental studies connected with the comparison of conventionally and autoclave prepared calcium oxides are also discussed.