Oxygen permeation through the LSCO-80/CeO2 asymmetric tubular membrane reactor

Microstructure Control of Tubular Micro-Channelled Supports Fabricated by the Phase Inversion Casting Method

Thin-film membrane layers coated onto porous supports is widely considered as an efficient way to obtain high-performance oxygen transport membranes with both good permeability and high mechanical strength. However, conventional preparation methods of membrane supports usually result in highly tortuous channels with high mass transfer resistance. Tubular porous MgO and MgO/CGO supports were fabricated with a simple phase inversion casting method. Long finger-like channels were obtained inside the dual-phase supports by adjusting the ceramic loading, polymer concentration and particle surface area, as well as by introducing ethanol inside the casting slurries. Slurries that exhibit lower viscosity in the zero-shear viscosity region resulted in more pronounced channel growth. These supports were used to produce thin supported CGO membranes for possible application in O2 separation. Similar shrinkage speeds for the different layers during the sintering process are crucial for obtaining dense asymmetric membranes. The shrinkage of the support tube at a high temperature was greatly affected by the polymer/ceramic ratio and compatible shrinkage behaviours of the two layers were realized with polymer/ceramic weight ratios between 0.175 and 0.225.

Novel TiO2 catalyst carriers with high thermostability for selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH3

A series of TiO2 catalyst carriers with ceria additives were prepared by a precipitation method and tested for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by NH3. These samples were characterized by XRD, N2-BET, NH3-TPD, H2-TPR, TEM, XPS and in situ DRIFTS, respectively. Results showed that the appropriate addition of ceria can enhance the catalytic activity and thermostability of TiO2 catalyst carriers significantly. The maximum catalytic activity of Ti-Ce-Ox-500 is 98.5% at 400 °C with a GHSV of 100 000 h-1 and the high catalytic activity still remains even after the treatment at high temperature for 24 h. The high catalytic performance of Ti-Ce-Ox-500 can be attributed to a series of superior properties, such as larger specific surface area, more Brønsted acid sites, more hydrogen consumption, and the higher proportion of chemisorbed oxygen. Ceria atoms can inhibit the crystalline grain growth and the collapse of small channels caused by high temperatures. Furthermore, in situ DRIFTS in different feed gases show that the SCR reaction over Ti-Ce-Ox-500 follows both E-R and L-H mechanisms.

Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conducting Membranes (MIEC) for Their Application in Membrane Reactors: A Review

Mixed ionic-electronic conducting membranes have seen significant progress over the last 25 years as efficient ways to obtain oxygen separation from air and for their integration in chemical production systems where pure oxygen in small amounts is needed. Perovskite materials are the most employed materials for membrane preparation. However, they have poor phase stability and are prone to poisoning when subjected to CO2 and SO2, which limits their industrial application. To solve this, the so-called dual-phase membranes are attracting greater attention. In this review, recent advances on self-supported and supported oxygen membranes and factors that affect the oxygen permeation and membrane stability are presented. Possible ways for further improvements that can be pursued to increase the oxygen permeation rate are also indicated. Lastly, an overview of the most relevant examples of membrane reactors in which oxygen membranes have been integrated are provided.

Role of ceria in the improvement of NO removal of lanthanum-based perovskite-type catalysts

Lanthanum-based perovskite-type oxides represented by LaBO3 (B = Co, Fe, Mn) have been thought to present strong limitations for practical application although they are active for catalytic removal of NO. Cerium (Ce) substitution has been extensively studied to modify the properties of perovskites. It is noted that a new phase of ceria (CeO2) can be separated from perovskites when the doping ratio exceeds the solution limit (x > S). This review outlines the relationship between the existence of CeO2 phase and catalytic activity. CeO2 dispersing on the lattice surface or small particles are beneficial for catalytic activity, but larger particles are adverse. Ce-doped LaBO3 perovskites exhibiting the best activity must contain additional CeO2 phases. In addition, CeO2-supported LaBO3 perovskite catalysts are discussed.

A facile synthesis strategy to couple porous nanocubes of CeO2 with Ag nanoparticles: an excellent catalyst with enhanced reactivity for the ‘click reaction’ and carboxylation of terminal alkynes

CeO₂–Ag nanocomposite was synthesized by modifying the surface of CeO₂ with DMP and its catalytic activity was shown for click reaction and carboxylation of terminal alkynes.

Gopinath C, Bala T. Deposition of Au nanoparticles inside porous CeO2 nanocubes using Langmuir–Blodgett technique

AuCl₄-ions are reduced to Au⁰ inside the pores of CeO₂ nanocubes by oleylamine, which has the dual role of capping and reducing agent.

Ceria-based catalysts for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH3

Low-temperature NH₃-SCR has attracted considerable attention owing to the vast demand in industrial furnaces and its energy-conserving feature. This review summarizes the recent advances in the application of ceria-based catalysts for low-temperature NH₃-SCR.

Shape-controlled ceria-based nanostructures for catalysis applications

Among oxide catalysts, ceria is a technologically important material because of its wide applications as a promoter in three-way catalysts for the elimination of toxic exhaust gases, low-temperature water-gas-shift reaction, oxygen sensors, oxygen permeation membrane systems, and fuel cells. The catalytic activities of cerium oxide are highly dependent on interfacial structures and nanocrystal morphologies. This Minireview highlights the recent progress in the research of ceria nanoshapes as both catalysts and catalyst supports, including the synthesis, structure characterization, catalytic properties, surface chemistry, as well as reaction mechanisms. Insights from in situ spectroscopy study and theoretical modeling of nanostructured ceria-based materials have shed light on the origin of the ceria shape effect. It is suggested that the surface structure of ceria controls the catalytic activity and selectivity through structure-dependent surface-site geometry, surface vacancy formation energy, defect sites, and coordinatively unsaturated sites on ceria. The morphology-dependent catalysis in ceria has offered a new strategy to finely tune the catalytic activity and selectivity through shape control without altering the catalyst composition. A brief summary and an outlook on this research field will be presented at the end.

Influence of the interfacial phase on the structural integrity and oxygen permeability of a dual-phase membrane

Compositing fluorite Ce0.8Gd0.2O2-δ (CGO) oxide with perovskite La0.4Ba0.6Fe0.8Zn0.2O3-δ (LBFZ) oxide leads to the formation of a minor interfacial BaCeO3 phase upon sintering at 1400 °C. This interfacial composition assures a gastight ceramic membrane with fine grain-boundary structure, in which the LBFZ phase exhibits an improved oxygen permeability over the pristine LBFZ membrane on the same volumetric basis. The presence of the BaCeO3 phase effectively preserves the structural integrity of the composition by limiting the interfacial diffusion of barium ions between LBFZ and CGO. In comparison, replacing CGO with Y0.08Zr0.92O2-δ in the system results in a substantially low oxygen flux due to an overwhelming interfacial diffusion and, consequently, a heavy degradation of LBFZ. Besides structural reinforcement, the high interface between LBFZ and CGO benefits oxygen transport, as is proven through variation of the oxygen partial pressure on the feed side of the membrane and operation temperature. Furthermore, the trade-off between LBFZ loading and interfacial diffusion yields an optimal CGO loading at 40 wt %, which exhibits an oxygen flux of 0.84 cm(3)/cm(2)·min at 950 °C. In summary, the minor interfacial binding between CGO and LBFZ grains is constructive in easing oxygen crossover in the phase boundary with the exception of maintaining membrane structural stability under oxygen permeation conditions.