Composite catalysts for degradation of vocs, odors, and pathogens
Research platform for designing multi-component composite catalysts that degrade volatile organic compounds, odors, and pathogens through combined thermal, photochemical, and microwave activation. Targets indoor air quality and disinfection applications where single catalysts fall short due to competitive adsorption and poisoning effects.
Overview
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs), odors, and pathogens each present distinct degradation challenges, and no single catalyst material is typically capable of addressing all of them at once. Competitive adsorption, differing reaction kinetics, and catalyst poisoning limit the effectiveness of one-size-fits-all approaches. This research program develops composite catalysts—multi-component systems designed to degrade multiple contaminant classes simultaneously. By tailoring material composition and pairing catalysts with appropriate activation methods, the work aims to deliver practical solutions for indoor air quality, odor control, and pathogen reduction in a single integrated platform.
Technical specifications
Catalyst design approach:
- Alloy catalysts demonstrated for pathogen degradation
- Porous metal oxide catalysts demonstrated for VOC and odor decomposition
- Multi-component composites designed to overcome competitive adsorption and poisoning
- Monolith and honeycomb supports used to enhance dispersion and mass transfer
Activation methods:
- Thermal activation
- Photochemical activation
- Microwave activation
- Combinations of activation modes with recirculation to optimize degradation activity
Reactor and validation capabilities:
- Reactors designed to avoid contamination from decomposition products
- Chromatography and mass spectrometry for decomposition product analysis
- Design of experiment methods for activity optimization
- Competitive adsorption and degradation studies with halogenated hydrocarbons as model indoor air contaminants
Technology readiness level
Individual catalyst components have been validated: pathogen degradation, VOC decomposition, and odor removal have each been demonstrated separately, along with multiple reactor configurations. The composite catalyst integration is at an early-to-mid stage of development. The next phase involves synthesizing individual and multi-component composites, preparing mixtures and honeycomb-supported systems, and conducting competitive adsorption and degradation studies using established analytical methods. All synthesis capabilities and equipment are available, and the planned validation timeline is approximately one year. Specific target selection, economic analysis, and final approach direction will be determined in collaboration with the project sponsor.
About University of Connecticut
UConn is a comprehensive public research university and the state’s flagship, with its main campus in Storrs and an academic medical center in Farmington. Industry engages through UConn Tech Park—anchored by the Innovation Partnership Building—with shared labs, pilot‑scale testbeds, and advanced prototyping for collaborators. Integration with UConn Health enables clinical collaborations and translation, while Hartford and Stamford campuses connect companies to talent along the New York–Boston corridor; a statewide extension network supports technology adoption. Research is supported by competitive federal funding from agencies such as NIH, NSF, DOE, USDA, and DOD. A dedicated technology commercialization office and the Technology Incubation Program support IP, licensing, and startup incubation across multiple sites.
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