Design and Application of an Experimental System on Multipollutant Catalytic Removal for Undergraduate Teaching: A Case Study of VOCs Oxidation over Mn–Fe Oxide Catalysts

Abstract

In the face of increasingly severe atmospheric pollution, it is crucial to cultivate undergraduates’ environmental awareness and their ability to address complex atmospheric pollution challenges. To this end, a multipollutant catalytic treatment system was developed and integrated into a comprehensive teaching experiment. Taking the catalytic oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as the core experiment, students prepared Mn–Fe oxide catalysts in groups via the hydrolysis-driven redox method. Toluene was used as the model pollutant, and the influence of HNO3 dosage on the physicochemical properties and toluene oxidation performance of the catalysts was investigated. The teaching content was further extended through extracurricular experiments on CO oxidation, NH3–SCR, and coupled reactions using the same experimental system, broadening students’ exposure to multipollutant catalytic control. Students’ learning outcomes were evaluated through experimental performance, experimental reports, and oral presentations, while a structured questionnaire was used to collect their feedback on learning gains and the overall teaching experience. Teaching practice indicated that the experiment supported the development of students’ competencies in engineering practice, independent learning, and critical thinking.