Problems Manganese dioxide

Even ia 1960 a catalytic route was considered the answer to the pollution problem and the by-product sulfate, but nearly ten years elapsed before a process was developed that could be used commercially. Some of the eadier attempts iacluded hydrolysis of acrylonitrile on a sulfonic acid ion-exchange resia (69). Manganese dioxide showed some catalytic activity (70), and copper ions present ia two different valence states were described as catalyticaHy active (71), but copper metal by itself was not active. A variety of catalysts, such as Umshibara or I Jllmann copper and nickel, were used for the hydrolysis of aromatic nitriles, but aUphatic nitriles did not react usiag these catalysts (72). Beginning ia 1971 a series of patents were issued to The Dow Chemical Company (73) describiag the use of copper metal catalysis. Full-scale production was achieved the same year. A solution of acrylonitrile ia water was passed over a fixed bed of copper catalyst at 85°C, which produced a solution of acrylamide ia water with very high conversions and selectivities to acrylamide. 

The problem of low specific surface (which, however, has a beneficial effect on the corrosion rate) cannot be solved so easily. This was one important reason for the development of the alkaline Mn02 / zinc cell known as "alkaline" or "PAM" (primary alkaline manganese dioxide). 

Manganese dioxide can be used to absorb the initially low concentration SO2 to produce the sulphate in a Mitsubishi Process (23). In this case the absorbing phase is itself the oxidising agent. Regeneration with ammonia and air simultaneously produces ammonium sulphate which can be directly marketed as a fertiliser, thus the calcium ion problem of the dry limestone process is replaced by a plant nutrient ion -... 

Research on the important, and difficult, problem of removing small quantities of carbon monoxide from the air has shown that this can be best effected, by catalytic oxidation at room temperature, by mixtures of oxides, which are far more effective than any of the oxides singly.2 While neither manganese dioxide, silver oxide, nor copper oxide will oxidize carbon monoxide rapidly at room temperature, mixtures of manganese dioxide and copper oxide (60/40) will do so silver oxide also much accelerates the oxidation by manganese dioxide. It is stated that 1 per cent, of potash is beneficial, but larger amounts retard the oxidation. Not all oxides accelerate thus cobalt oxide retards oxidation. Various mixtures of manganese dioxide and other oxides as promoters are sold as Hopcalite. ... 

Due mainly to the environmental problems associated with - mercury, the sale of mercury batteries has been banned in many countries during the past years, and they were banned by the International Electrochemical Commission (IEC) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). They have been replaced by alkaline-manganese dioxide, zinc/air, silver oxide, and lithium batteries. 

Alternatives most frequently considered for taste and odor removal include breakpoint chlorination, aeration, ozonation, and oxidation with chlorine dioxide or potassium permanganate. None of these technologies have been found to approach the activated carbon adsorption process iri terms of effective treatment for this particular water quality problem. Another alternative is sorption onto other solids such as bleaching clays, synthetic resins or manganese dioxide. A brief summary of the advantages, disadvantages and cost factors associated with adsorption and alternative treatments for removal of tastes and odors... 

The Deacon process solved these problems by replacing manganese dioxide by air as the oxidizer (Eq. 8.55). Further tuning of the Deacon process resulted in the development of the Kel Chlor Cu/heat... 

Limiting the amount of metallic zinc in the anode formulation prevents deep discharge of the manganese dioxide cathode which was one of the most important problems with earlier constructions. A physical restriction of the cathode and the use of modified manganese dioxide containing lattice stabilizers contributed to the improvement of cycle life [11,12,13]. 

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