Sonochemically prepared hierarchical MFI-type zeolites as active catalysts for catalytic ethanol dehydration

Synthesis of Mesoporous Silica Incorporated with Low Iron Concentration and Gelatin Co-Template via The Ultrasonication Method and Its Methylene Blue Photodegradation Performance

In this work, low iron concentration incorporated on mesoporous silica with gelatin co-template (Fe2O3/GSBA-15) has been successfully synthesized via the ultrasonication method. The physical, chemical, and structural properties of the samples were investigated with X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscope- Energy Dispersive X-Ray (SEM-EDX), Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR), and N2 adsorption-desorption. Results showed good distribution of low concentration of iron oxide on the gelatin mesoporous silica GSBA-15. Elemental and surface analysis presented that iron oxide incorporation with higher concentration exhibited lower surface area due to the blocking pore. The highest photocatalytic activity on the methylene blue dye degradation was achieved at 10% Fe2O3/GSBA-15 with ~80% efficiency. The results revealed that the photocatalytic activity of Fe2O3/GSBA-15 enhanced with the presence of iron oxide. Copyright © 2022 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0). 

Dehydration of methanol and ethanol over ferrierite originated layered zeolites - the role of acidity and porous structure

Ferrierites and their delaminated (ITQ-6) and silica intercalated (ITQ-36) forms, with the intended molar Si/Al ratios of zeolite layers of 30 and 50, were synthesized and tested as catalysts of methanol to dimethyl ether (DME) as well as ethanol to diethyl ether (DEE) and ethylene dehydration. It was shown that increased content of acid sites, especially of Brønsted type, resulted in more active catalysts of alcohol dehydration. Brønsted acid sites dominate in ferrierites and their delaminated forms (ITQ-6). Contribution of the Lewis type of acid sites increased in silica pillared ferrierites (ITQ-36) possibly by deposition of aluminium species on the surface of amorphous silica. Conversion of methanol to DME was not limited by internal diffusion of reactants in narrow pores of ferrierite. Such limitation was observed for synthesis of larger DEE molecules over ferrierites. The ITQ-6 catalysts with the opened interlayer structure presented better efficiency in ethanol to DEE conversion due to overcoming these diffusional restrictions. Moreover, selectivity to DEE over ITQ-6 was higher than in the presence of three-dimensional ferrierite.

Bioethanol Upgrading to Renewable Monomers Using Hierarchical Zeolites: Catalyst Preparation, Characterization, and Catalytic Studies

Bioethanol is one of the most promising renewable resources for the production of important monomers. To date, there have been various processes proposed for bioethanol conversion to renewable monomers. In this review, the catalytic bioethanol upgrading to various types of monomers using hierarchical zeolites as catalysts is illustrated, including the recent design and preparation of hierarchical zeolites for these catalytic processes. The characterizations of catalysts including textural properties, pore architectures, acidic properties, and active species are also exemplified. Moreover, the catalytic studies with various processes of monomer production from bioethanol including bioethanol dehydration, bioethanol to hydrocarbons, and bioethanol to butadiene are revealed in terms of catalytic activities and mechanistic studies. In addition, the future perspectives of these catalytic circumstances are proposed in both economic and sustainable development contexts.

Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Sonically Prepared Cu–Y, Cu–USY and Cu–ZSM-5 Catalysts for SCR deNOx

The objective of our study was to prepare Y-, USY- and ZSM-5-based catalysts by hydrothermal synthesis, followed by copper active-phase deposition by either conventional ion-exchange or ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, Raman, UV-Vis, monitoring ammonia and nitrogen oxide sorption by FT-IR and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS). XRD data confirmed the purity and structure of the Y/USY or ZSM-5 zeolites. The nitrogen and ammonia sorption results indicated that the materials were highly porous and acidic. The metallic active phase was found in the form of cations in ion-exchanged zeolites and in the form of nanoparticle metal oxides in sonochemically prepared catalysts. The latter showed full activity and high stability in the SCR deNOx reaction. The faujasite-based catalysts were fully active at 200–400 °C, whereas the ZSM-5-based catalysts reached 100% activity at 400–500 °C. Our in situ DRIFTS experiments revealed that Cu–O(NO) and Cu–NH3 were intermediates, also indicating the role of Brønsted sites in the formation of NH4NO3. Furthermore, the results from our experimental in situ spectroscopic studies were compared with DFT models. Overall, our findings suggest two possible mechanisms for the deNOx reaction, depending on the method of catalyst preparation (i.e., conventional ion-exchange vs. ultrasonic irradiation).