Water Gas Shift Catalysis

Harnessing the Power of the Water-Gas Shift Reaction for Organic Synthesis

Since its original discovery over a century ago, the water-gas shift reaction (WGSR) has played a crucial role in industrial chemistry, providing a source of H2 to feed fundamental industrial transformations such as the Haber-Bosch synthesis of ammonia. Although the production of hydrogen remains nowadays the major application of the WGSR, the advent of homogeneous catalysis in the 1970s marked the beginning of a synergy between WGSR and organic chemistry. Thus, the reducing power provided by the CO/H2 O couple has been exploited in the synthesis of fine chemicals; not only hydrogenation-type reactions, but also catalytic processes that require a reductive step for the turnover of the catalytic cycle. Despite the potential and unique features of the WGSR, its applications in organic synthesis remain largely underdeveloped. The topic will be critically reviewed herein, with the expectation that an increased awareness may stimulate new, creative work in the area.

Selective Deoxygenation of Biomass-Derived Bio-oils within Hydrogen-Modest Environments: A Review and New Insights

Research development of processes for refining bio-oils is becoming increasingly popular. One issue that these processes possess is their high requirement for H2 gas. In response, researchers must develop catalysts that perform deoxygenation while minimizing H2 consumption-selective deoxygenation. Unlike traditional deoxygenation processes, selective deoxygenation reactions and catalysts represent an information gap that, prior to this publication, has yet to be reviewed. This review addresses the gap by providing both a summary of recent research developments and insight into future developments of new catalytic materials. Bifunctional catalysts containing a combination of oxophilicity and an active metal phase appear to be the most beneficial for selective deoxygenation processes in a H2 -modest environment. It is important that catalysts have a supply of disassociated hydrogen, because without such, activity and stability will suffer. The authors recommend to maximize the use of internally available hydrogen in bio-fuel, which may be the only viable approach for deoxygenation if external H2 gas is limited. This would be possible through the development of catalysts that promote both the water-gas-shift and deoxygenation reactions.

A new LHHW kinetic model for CO2 hydrogenation over an iron catalyst

A new Langmuir–Hinshelwood–Hougen–Watson (LHHW) type kinetic model is developed for carbon dioxide hydrogenation over a precipitated Fe/Cu/K catalyst in a continuous spinning basket reactor. A number of possible reaction sets originating from the combination of the formate mechanism for the water gas shift reaction and the enolic mechanism for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis, with various rate determining steps, are considered. The results show that the CO2 hydrogenation process is limited by the reaction between surface CO and hydrogen species to form enolic (HCO) units. This surface reaction is the key reaction step in producing higher hydrocarbons by the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis.

Mechanisms of the Water-Gas Shift Reaction Catalyzed by Ruthenium Carbonyl Complexes

Density functional theory (DFT) is employed to study the water-gas shift (WGS) reaction in the gas phase for two complexes, Ru3(CO)12 and Ru(CO)5. Here we report four mechanisms of ruthenium carbonyl complexes catalyzed for WGS reaction. The energetic span model is applied to evaluate efficiency of the four catalytic pathways. Our results indicate that mechanism C and D show a good catalytic behavior, which is in agreement with results from the literature. The mechanism C and D not only include the important intermediate Ru3(CO)11H(-) but also exclude the energy-demanding OH(-) desorption and revise an unfavorable factor of the previous mechanism. Two complexes along mechanisms B have the highest turnover frequency (TOF) values. The trinuclear carbonyl complexes-Ru3(CO)12 is preferred over mononuclear carbonyl Ru(CO)5 by comparing TOF due to the fact that metal-metal cooperativity can enhance activity to the WGS reaction. In this work, the nature of interaction between transition states and intermediates is also analyzed by the detailed electronic densities of states, and we further clarify high catalytic activity of ruthenium carbonyl complexes as well. Our conclusions provide a guide to design catalysts for the WGS reaction.

Copper-Based Catalysts Supported on Highly Porous Silica for the Water Gas Shift Reaction

Copper-based nanoparticles, supported on either a silica aerogel or cubic mesostructured silicas obtained by using two different synthetic protocols, were used as catalysts for the water gas shift reaction. The obtained nanocomposites were thoroughly characterised before and after catalysis through nitrogen adsorption-desorption measurements at -196 °C, TEM, and wide- and low-angle XRD. The samples before catalysis contained nanoparticles of copper oxides (either CuO or Cu₂ O), whereas the formation of metallic copper nanoparticles, constituting the active catalytic phase, was observed either by using pre-treatment in a reducing atmosphere or directly during the catalytic reaction owing to the presence of carbon monoxide. A key role in determining the catalytic performances of the samples is played by the ability of different matrices to promote a high dispersion of copper metal nanoparticles. The best catalytic performances are obtained with the aerogel sample, which also exhibits constant carbon monoxide conversion values at constant temperature and reproducible behaviour after subsequent catalytic runs. On the other hand, in the catalysts based on cubic mesostructured silica, the detrimental effects related to sintering of copper nanoparticles are avoided only on the silica support, which is able to produce a reasonable dispersion of the copper nanophase.

Homogeneous and Heterogeneous (Fex, Cr1-x)(OH)3 Precipitation: Implications for Cr Sequestration

The formation of (Fe, Cr)(OH)3 nanoparticles determines the fate of aqueous Cr in many aquatic environments. Using small-angle X-ray scattering, precipitation rates of (Fe, Cr)(OH)3 nanoparticles in solution and on quartz were quantified from 0.1 mM Fe(III) solutions containing 0-0.25 mM Cr(III) at pH = 3.7 ± 0.2. Concentration ratio of aqueous Cr(III)/Fe(III) controlled the chemical composition (x) of (Fex, Cr1-x)(OH)3 precipitates, solutions' supersaturation with respect to precipitates, and the surface charge of quartz. Therefore, the aqueous Cr(III)/Fe(III) ratio affected homogeneous (in solution) and heterogeneous (on quartz) precipitation rates of (Fex, Cr1-x)(OH)3 through different mechanisms. The sequestration mechanisms of Cr(III) in precipitates were also investigated. In solutions with high aqueous Cr(III)/Fe(III) ratios, surface enrichment of Cr(III) on the precipitates occurred, resulting in slower particle growth in solutions. From solutions with 0-0.1 mM Cr(III), the particles on quartz grew from 2 to 4 nm within 1 h. Interestingly, from solution with 0.25 mM Cr(III), particles of two distinct sizes (2 and 6 nm) formed on quartz, and their sizes remained unchanged throughout the reaction. Our study provided new insights on homogeneous and heterogeneous precipitation of (Fex, Cr1-x)(OH)3 nanoparticles, which can help determine the fate of Cr in aquatic environments.

Progress on sorption-enhanced reaction process for hydrogen production

Concerns about the environment and fossil fuel depletion led to the concept of “hydrogen economy”, where hydrogen is used as an energy carrier. Nowadays, hydrogen is mostly produced from fossil fuel resources by natural gas reforming, coal gasification, as well as the water-gas-shift (WGS) reaction involved in these processes. Alternatively, bioethanol, glucose, glycerol, bio-oil, and other renewable biomass-derived feedstocks can also be employed for hydrogen production via steam reforming process. The combination of steam reforming and/or WGS reaction with

The effect of an Fe promoter on Cu/SiO2 catalysts for improving their catalytic activity and stability in the water-gas shift reaction

By adding a small amount of iron, the catalytic activity and stability of Cu/SiO₂ are effectively improved.

In situ study of copper reduction in SrTi1−xCuxO3 nanoparticles

Fourier transform magnitude of Cu K-edge absorption spectra before (300 K) and after (550 K) reduction.

Visualisation of single atom dynamics in water gas shift reaction for hydrogen generation

In situ real time single atom resolution observations of dynamic water gas shift catalysts in CO + water (WGS) environments.

Predictive morphology, stoichiometry and structure of surface species in supported Ru nanoparticles under H2 and CO atmospheres from combined experimental and DFT studies

CO and H₂ chemisorption stoichiometries of silica supported Ru nanoparticles are understood by combining chemisorption experiments and ab initio calculations.

Investigation of oxygen vacancies on Pt- or Au-modified CeO2 materials for CO oxidation

Metal (Au or Pt)-modified CeO₂ materials with excellent redox ability for the oxidation of CO to CO₂ were prepared by a redox precipitation method and a certain amount (4.2%) of oxygen vacancies was necessary to improve the CO oxidation on Pt-CeO₂.

CO2conversion by reverse water gas shift catalysis: comparison of catalysts, mechanisms and their consequences for CO2conversion to liquid fuels

The reverse water gas shift reaction, its proposed mechanisms, currently used and proposed catalysts and an intensified version of the reaction are evaluated for their abilities to significantly reduced CO₂atmospheric concentration.

Fe/γ-Al2O3 and Fe–K/γ-Al2O3 as reverse water-gas shift catalysts

Fe–K/Al₂O₃ is shown to be an effective RWGS catalyst with high CO selectivity.

Highly Effective Pt-Based Water-Gas Shift Catalysts by Surface Modification with Alkali Hydroxide Salts

Herein, we describe an economical and convenient method to improve the performance of Pt/alumina catalysts for the water-gas shift reaction through surface modification of the catalysts with alkali hydroxides according to the solid catalyst with ionic liquid layer approach. The results are in agreement with our findings reported earlier for methanol steam reforming. This report indicates that alkali doping of the catalyst plays an important role in the observed catalyst activation. In addition, the basic and hygroscopic nature of the salt coating contributes to a significant improvement in the performance of the catalyst. During the reaction, a partly liquid film of alkali hydroxide forms on the alumina surface, which increases the availability of H₂O at the catalytically active sites. Kinetic studies reveal a negligible effect of the KOH coating on the rate dependence of CO and H₂O partial pressures. TEM studies indicate an agglomeration of the active Pt clusters during catalyst preparation; restructuring of Pt nanoparticles occurs under reaction conditions, which leads to a highly active and stable system over 240 h time on stream. Excessive pore fillings with KOH introduce a mass transfer barrier as indicated in a volcano-shaped curve of activity versus salt loading. The optimum KOH loading was found to be 7.5 wt %.