Heterogeneous partial oxidation catalysis on metal oxides

In Situ UV-Vis-NIR Absorption Spectroscopy and Catalysis

This review highlights in situ UV-vis-NIR range absorption spectroscopy in catalysis. A variety of experimental techniques identifying reaction mechanisms, kinetics, and structural properties are discussed. Stopped flow techniques, use of laser pulses, and use of experimental perturbations are demonstrated for in situ studies of enzymatic, homogeneous, heterogeneous, and photocatalysis. They access different time scales and are applicable to different reaction systems and catalyst types. In photocatalysis, femto- and nanosecond resolved measurements through transient absorption are discussed for tracking excited states. UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopies for structural characterization are demonstrated especially for Cu and Fe exchanged zeolites and metalloenzymes. This requires combining different spectroscopies. Combining magnetic circular dichroism and resonance Raman spectroscopy is especially powerful. A multitude of phenomena can be tracked on transition metal catalysts on various supports, including changes in oxidation state, adsorptions, reactions, support interactions, surface plasmon resonances, and band gaps. Measurements of oxidation states, oxygen vacancies, and band gaps are shown on heterogeneous catalysts, especially for electrocatalysis. UV-vis-NIR absorption is burdened by broad absorption bands. Advanced analysis techniques enable the tracking of coking reactions on acid zeolites despite convoluted spectra. The value of UV-vis-NIR absorption spectroscopy to catalyst characterization and mechanistic investigation is clear but could be expanded.

Ce-Doped LaMnO3 Redox Catalysts for Chemical Looping Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethane

As a novel reaction mode of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene, the chemical looping oxidative dehydrogenation (CL-ODH) of ethane to ethylene has attracted much attention. Instead of using gaseous oxygen, CL-ODH uses lattice oxygen in an oxygen carrier or redox catalyst to facilitate the ODH reaction. In this paper, a perovskite type redox catalyst LaMnO3+δ was used as a substrate, Ce3+ with different proportions was introduced into its A site, and its CL-ODH reaction performance for ethane was studied. The results showed that the ratio of Mn4+/Mn3+ on the surface of Ce-modified samples decreased significantly, and the lattice oxygen species in the bulk phase increased; these were the main reasons for improving ethylene selectivity. La0.7Ce0.3MnO3 showed the best performance during the ODH reaction and showed good stability in twenty redox cycle tests.

Designing Sites in Heterogeneous Catalysis: Are We Reaching Selectivities Competitive With Those of Homogeneous Catalysts?

A critical review of different prominent nanotechnologies adapted to catalysis is provided, with focus on how they contribute to the improvement of selectivity in heterogeneous catalysis. Ways to modify catalytic sites range from the use of the reversible or irreversible adsorption of molecular modifiers to the immobilization or tethering of homogeneous catalysts and the development of well-defined catalytic sites on solid surfaces. The latter covers methods for the dispersion of single-atom sites within solid supports as well as the use of complex nanostructures, and it includes the post-modification of materials via processes such as silylation and atomic layer deposition. All these methodologies exhibit both advantages and limitations, but all offer new avenues for the design of catalysts for specific applications. Because of the high cost of most nanotechnologies and the fact that the resulting materials may exhibit limited thermal or chemical stability, they may be best aimed at improving the selective synthesis of high value-added chemicals, to be incorporated in organic synthesis schemes, but other applications are being explored as well to address problems in energy production, for instance, and to design greener chemical processes. The details of each of these approaches are discussed, and representative examples are provided. We conclude with some general remarks on the future of this field.

Selective Oxidation of Isobutane to Methacrylic Acid and Methacrolein: A Critical Review

Selective oxidation of isobutane to methacrolein (MAC) and methacrylic acid (MAA) has received great interest both in the chemical industry and in academic research. The advantages of this reaction originate not only from the low cost of the starting material and reduced process complexity, but also from limiting the use of toxic reactants and the production of wastes. Successive studies and reports have shown that heteropolycompounds (HPCs) with Keggin structure (under the form of partially neutralized acids with increased stability) can selectively convert isobutane to MAA and MAC due to their strong and tunable acidity and redox properties. This review hence aims to discuss the Keggin-type HPCs that have been used in recent years to catalyze the oxidation of isobutane to MAA and MAC, and to review alternative metal oxides with proper redox properties for the same reaction. In addition, the influence of the main reaction conditions will be discussed.

C-H bond activation in light alkanes: a theoretical perspective

Alkanes are the major constituents of natural gas and crude oil, the feedstocks for the chemical industry. The efficient and selective activation of C-H bonds can convert abundant and low-cost hydrocarbon feedstocks into value-added products. Due to the increasing global demand for light alkenes and their corresponding polymers as well as synthesis gas and hydrogen production, C-H bond activation of light alkanes has attracted widespread attention. A theoretical understanding of C-H bond activation in light hydrocarbons via density functional theory (DFT) and microkinetic modeling provides a feasible approach to gain insight into the process and guidelines for designing more efficient catalysts to promote light alkane transformation. This review describes the recent progress in computational catalysis that has addressed the C-H bond activation of light alkanes. We start with direct and oxidative C-H bond activation of methane, with emphasis placed on kinetic and mechanistic insights obtained from DFT assisted microkinetic analysis into steam and dry reforming, and the partial oxidation dependence on metal/oxide surfaces and nanoparticle size. Direct and oxidative activation of the C-H bond of ethane and propane on various metal and oxide surfaces are subsequently reviewed, including the elucidation of active sites, intriguing mechanisms, microkinetic modeling, and electronic features of the ethane and propane conversion processes with a focus on suppressing the side reaction and coke formation. The main target of this review is to give fundamental insight into C-H bond activation of light alkanes, which can provide useful guidance for the optimization of catalysts in future research.

Plasma modification of vanadium oxynitride surfaces: Characterization by in situ XPS experiments and DFT calculations

Plasma modification of transition metal nitride/oxynitride (MO_xN_y) surfaces for enhanced surface properties is highly desirable, given the scalability of such methods and limitations of thermal treatments. In situ x-ray excited photoelectron spectroscopy demonstrates that the O₂ plasma oxidation of VO_xN_y films generates non-lattice N1s surface features with binding energies near 396.5 eV, which are associated with the nitrogen reduction reaction activity but not observed upon thermal oxidation. The NH₃ plasma generates N1s surface features near 400.5 eV binding energy. The O₂+NH₃ plasma generates both types of N1s features. Annealing in UHV to <1000 K reverses plasma-induced changes to N1s spectra. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations integrated with the experiments indicate that the plasma-induced N1s features at ∼396.5 eV and 400.5 eV are V≡N: and V-NH₂ sites, respectively, with significantly lower thermal stabilities than lattice N sites. These results provide practical insight regarding the plasma modification of MO_xN_y surfaces for important applications.

Influence of the Fuel/Oxidant Ratio on the Elaboration of Binary Oxide Catalyst by a Microwave-Assisted Solution Combustion Method

Three series of binary metal oxide catalysts containing Ni, Cu, or Co oxides were prepared, fully characterized and tested in CO oxidation. The catalysts, with a constant transition metal loading of 10 wt%, were prepared from metal nitrates and urea mixtures by a microwave-assisted solution combustion method. The RV/OV ratio, corresponding to the stoichiometry of the reactants, calculated from their elemental oxidizing and reducing valences, was varied. In order to modify the redox character of the synthesis medium from the quantity of urea; an excess of urea was used for attaining reducing conditions, while a deficit of urea shifted the medium to oxidizing conditions. Three RV/OV ratios (0.9, 1.0, and 1.1) were selected to elaborate the different binary metal oxide catalysts, nine oxide catalysts were synthesized. Then, the influence of the stoichiometry (RV/OV ratio) on the bulk and surface properties of the binary metal oxide catalysts was investigated. Similarly, the influence of the RV/OV ratio on the CO oxidation activity was discussed and the optimal value of RV/OV ratio was identified. The results show that the increasing of the RV/OV ratio from 0.9 to 1.1, particularly in Ni- and Co-containing catalysts, induces stronger metal-aluminum interactions, in the form of aluminates phases, and that are correlated to the dramatic reduction of the CO oxidation activity. The best physicochemical properties and highest catalytic activities were achieved with the catalysts prepared in redox systems stoichiometrically balanced (RV/OV = 1). The Cu-containing catalysts presented the best catalytic activities in CO oxidation.

Approaches for Selective Oxidation of Methane to Methanol

Methane activation chemistry, despite being widely reported in literature, remains to date a subject of debate. The challenges in this reaction are not limited to methane activation but extend to stabilization of the intermediate species. The low C-H dissociation energy of intermediates vs. reactants leads to CO2 formation. For selective oxidation, nature presents methane monooxygenase as a benchmark. This enzyme selectively consumes methane by breaking it down into methanol. To assemble an active site similar to monooxygenase, the literature reports Cu-ZSM-5, Fe-ZSM-5, and Cu-MOR, using zeolites and systems like CeO2/Cu2O/Cu. However, the trade-off between methane activation and methanol selectivity remains a challenge. Density functional theory (DFT) calculations and spectroscopic studies indicate catalyst reducibility, oxygen mobility, and water as co-feed as primary factors that can assist in enabling higher selectivity. The use of chemical looping can further improve selectivity. However, in all systems, improvements in productivity per cycle are required in order to meet the economical/industrial standards.

Mars van Krevelen Mechanism for the Selective Partial Oxidation of Ethane

Ethylene is the most important olefin in the petrochemical context, since it is the main raw material for the production of many polymers. Traditional production of ethylene via thermal cracking and catalytic dehydrogenation consumes large amounts of energy; hence selective partial oxidation of ethane has been considered as an attractive alternative production path. Recently, development of a promising catalyst for selective partial oxidation of ethane, which consists of multi-metallic mixed oxides of Mo, Te, V, and Nb, has been published. It is also noteworthy that this catalytic system starts to be active at temperatures below 400 °C, substantially lower than the one required by commercial thermal processes, >800 °C. In this work, a kinetic mechanism based on Mars van Krevelen formalism is proposed for the selective partial oxidation of ethane, considering the surface itself as active protagonist of the reaction. RedOx steps on active sites are considered as the controlling ones, and the rest of transformations are considered as pseudo-steady steps. It is noticed that there are side reactions, which produces CO and CO2 as combustion by-products. Additionally, there is competition for reduced sites on the catalytic surface, mainly between oxygen and water molecules, which adsorb strongly on these sites. Adjusted results by the mechanism proposed are in agreement with experimental observations of reaction rates diminishing proportionally to partial pressure of water, caused by competition of reduced sites on catalyst surface.

Synergistic catalytic action of vanadia–titania composites towards the microwave-assisted benzoin oxidation

Application of synergistic effects is among the main ways to boost chemical efficiency.

General and Prospective Views on Oxidation Reactions in Heterogeneous Catalysis

In this review paper, we have assembled the main characteristics of partial oxidation reactions (oxidative dehydrogenation and selective oxidation to olefins or oxygenates, as aldehydes and carboxylic acids and nitriles), as well as total oxidation, particularly for depollution, environmental issues and wastewater treatments. Both gas–solid and liquid–solid media have been considered with recent and representative examples within these fields. We have also discussed about their potential and prospective industrial applications. Particular attention has been brought to new raw materials stemming from biomass, as well as to liquid–solid catalysts cases. This review paper also summarizes the progresses made in the use of unconventional activation methods for performing oxidation reactions, highlighting the synergy of these technologies with heterogeneous catalysis. Focus has been centered on both usual catalysts activation methods and less usual ones, such as the use of ultrasounds, microwaves, grinding (mechanochemistry) and photo-activated processes, as well as their combined use.

Catalysis for the synthesis of methacrylic acid and methyl methacrylate

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is a specialty monomer for poly methyl methacrylate (PMMA) and the increasing demand for this monomer has motivated industry to develop clean technologies based on renewable resources. The dominant commercial process reacts acetone and hydrogen cyanide to MMA (ACH route) but the intermediates (hydrogen cyanide, and acetone cyanohydrin) are toxic and represent an environmental hazard. Esterification of methacrylic acid (MAA) to MMA is a compelling alternative together with ethylene, propylene, and isobutene/t-butanol as feedstocks. Partially oxidizing isobutane or 2-methyl-1,3-propanediol (2MPDO) over heteropolycompounds to MAA in a single-step is nascent technology to replace current processes. The focus of this review is on catalysts and their role in the development of processes herein described. Indeed, in some cases remarkable catalysts were studied that enabled considerable steps forward in both the advancement of catalysis science and establishing the basis for new technologies. An emblematic example is represented by Keggin-type heteropolycompounds with cesium and vanadium, which are promising catalysts to convert isobutane and 2MPDO to MAA. Renewable sources for the MMA or MAA route include acetone, isobutanol, ethanol, lactic, itaconic, and citric acids. End-of-life PMMA is expected to grow as a future source of MMA.

Mechanism of heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of organic compounds to carboxylic acids

The results of studies on the mechanism of heterogeneous catalytic oxidation of organic compounds of different chemical structure to carboxylic acids are analyzed and generalized. The concept developed by Academician G.K.Boreskov, according to which the direction of the reaction is governed by the structure and bond energy of surface intermediates, was confirmed taking the title processes as examples. Quantitative criteria of the bond energies of surface compounds of oxidizable reactants, reaction products and oxygen that determine the selective course of the reaction are presented.

The bibliography includes 195 references.

The Design of MnOx Based Catalyst in Post-Plasma Catalysis Configuration for Toluene Abatement

This review provides an overview of our present state of knowledge using manganese oxide (MnOx)-based catalysts for toluene abatement in PPC (Post plasma-catalysis) configuration. The context of this study is concisely sum-up. After briefly screening the main depollution methods, the principles of PPC are exposed based on the coupling of two mature technologies such as NTP (Non thermal plasma) and catalysis. In that respect, the presentation of the abundant manganese oxides will be firstly given. Then in a second step the main features of MnOx allowing better performances in the reactions expected to occur in the abatement of toluene in PPC process are reviewed including ozone decomposition, toluene ozonation, CO oxidation and toluene total oxidation. Finally, in a last part the current status of the applications of PPC using MnOx on toluene abatement are discussed. In a first step, the selected variables of the hybrid process related to the experimental conditions of toluene abatement in air are identified. The selected variables are those expected to play a role in the performances of PPC system towards toluene abatement. Then the descriptors linked to the performances of the hybrid process in terms of efficiency are given and the effects of the variables on the experimental outcomes (descriptors) are discussed. The review would serve as a reference guide for the optimization of the PPC process using MnOx-based oxides for toluene abatement.