Skeletal isomerization of octadecane on bifunctional ZSM-23 zeolite catalyst

Molecular Views on Mechanisms of Brønsted Acid-Catalyzed Reactions in Zeolites

The Brønsted acidity of proton-exchanged zeolites has historically led to the most impactful applications of these materials in heterogeneous catalysis, mainly in the fields of transformations of hydrocarbons and oxygenates. Unravelling the mechanisms at the atomic scale of these transformations has been the object of tremendous efforts in the last decades. Such investigations have extended our fundamental knowledge about the respective roles of acidity and confinement in the catalytic properties of proton exchanged zeolites. The emerging concepts are of general relevance at the crossroad of heterogeneous catalysis and molecular chemistry. In the present review, emphasis is given to molecular views on the mechanism of generic transformations catalyzed by Brønsted acid sites of zeolites, combining the information gained from advanced kinetic analysis, in situ, and operando spectroscopies, and quantum chemistry calculations. After reviewing the current knowledge on the nature of the Brønsted acid sites themselves, and the key parameters in catalysis by zeolites, a focus is made on reactions undergone by alkenes, alkanes, aromatic molecules, alcohols, and polyhydroxy molecules. Elementary events of C-C, C-H, and C-O bond breaking and formation are at the core of these reactions. Outlooks are given to take up the future challenges in the field, aiming at getting ever more accurate views on these mechanisms, and as the ultimate goal, to provide rational tools for the design of improved zeolite-based Brønsted acid catalysts.

Sustainable Aviation Fuel from Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Wet Wastes

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) uses heat and pressure to liquefy the organic matter in biomass/waste feedstocks to produce biocrude. When hydrotreated the biocrude is converted into transportation fuels including sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Further, by liquifying the organic matter in wet wastes such as sewage sludge, manure, and food waste, HTL can prevent landfilling or other disposal methods such as anerobic digestion, or incineration. A significant roadblock to the development of a new route for SAF is the strict approval process, and the large volumes required (>400 L) for testing. Tier α and β testing can predict some of the properties required for ASTM testing with <400 mL samples. The current study is the first to investigate the potential for utilizing wet-waste HTL biocrude (WWHTLB) as an SAF feedstock. Herein, several WWHTLB samples were produced from food waste, sewage sludge, and fats, oils, and grease, and subsequently hydrotreated and distilled to produce SAF samples. The fuels (both undistilled and distilled samples) were analyzed via elemental and 2D-GC-MS. Herein, we report the Tier α and β analysis of an SAF sample derived originally from a WWHTLB. The results of this work indicate that the upgraded WWHTLB material exhibits key fuel properties, including carbon number distribution, distillation profile, surface tension, density, viscosity, heat of combustion, and flash point, which all fall within the required range for aviation fuel. WWHTLB has therefore been shown to be a promising candidate feedstock for the production of SAF.

Towards biolubricant compatible vegetable oils by pore mouth hydrogenation with shape-selective Pt/ZSM-5 catalysts

Pore mouth hydrogenation of vegetable oil with Pt/ZSM-5 is confirmed by the similar intermediately melting product selectivity for various crystal sizes.

Optimizing acid-base bifunctional mesoporous catalysts for the henry reaction: effects of the surface density and site isolation of functional groups

We report on the effects of the surface density and the spacing between grafted organoamines (and residual ungrafted silanols) of amine-functionalized mesoporous materials on their (cooperative) catalytic activity in the Henry reaction. The spacing between the bifunctional groups (amines and silanols), their site isolation, and their surface density were controlled by one-step or two-step grafting of a series of organosilanes containing linear alkylamine, alkyldiamine, alkyltriamine, and meta- and para-substituted aromatic amines onto mesoporous silica in ethanol and/or toluene. The grafting in ethanol produced site-isolated, flexible alkylamines, alkyldiamines, and alkyltriamines of different tether lengths and rigid meta- and para-substituted aromatic amines and high surface area materials, whereas the grafting in toluene resulted in closely spaced organoamines and materials with lower surface areas. The spacing between the organoamine groups was probed by complexing cupric ions with the amines and by measuring the electronic spectra of the complexes. The materials' catalytic activities were dependent not only on the degree of site isolation of the amine groups and the surface areas of the materials, but also on the relative spacing between the functional groups and their surface density. Samples grafted with monoamine groups in ethanol and samples grafted with diamine or triamine groups in toluene for 5 h gave approximately 100% conversion in 16 min of the Henry reaction between p-hydroxybenzaldehyde and nitromethane. However, the corresponding monoamine-grafted sample in toluene and diamine- and triamine-grafted samples in ethanol gave approximately 100% conversion after 1 h. On the basis of turnover number (TON) and TON per surface area, the samples containing optimum concentrations of approximately 0.8 - 1.5 mmol of grafted organoamines/g, which we dubbed as the critical density of organic grafted groups, gave the highest catalytic efficiencies. These samples have the most favorable amine-silanol cooperative catalytic activity. Furthermore, samples functionalized with rigid meta-substituted aminophenyl groups in ethanol showed higher catalytic efficiency than the corresponding sample containing the amine groups at the para-position, possibly due to the close proximity of the bifunctional groups in the former. The capping of ungrafted silanols with noncatalytic organosilanes in toluene resulted in reduction of catalytic activities, confirming the involvement of silanols.