Activation of Small Alkanes in Ga-Exchanged Zeolites: A Quantum Chemical Study of Ethane Dehydrogenation

Highly Active and Selective Sites for Propane Dehydrogenation in Zeolite Ga-BEA

A highly selective Ga-modified zeolite BEA for propane dehydrogenation has been synthesized by grafting Ga on Zn-BEA followed by removal of Zn in the presence of H₂. A propene selectivity of 82% at 19% propane conversion illustrates the high selectivity at 813 K. The kinetic model of the catalyzed dehydrogenation including the elementary steps of propane adsorption, first and second C-H bond cleavage, and propene and H₂ desorption demonstrates that the propane dehydrogenation rate is determined by the first C-H bond cleavage at low p_C3H8, while at high p_C3H8, the rate is limited by the desorption of H₂. The active sites have been identified as dehydrated and tetrahedrally coordinated Ga³⁺ in the *BEA lattice. The low selectivity toward aromatics is concluded to be associated with the high Lewis acid strength of lattice Ga³⁺ and the low Brønsted acid strength of the hydrated Ga sites.

Activation and conversion of alkanes in the confined space of zeolite-type materials

Microporous zeolite-type materials, with crystalline porous structures formed by well-defined channels and cages of molecular dimensions, have been widely employed as heterogeneous catalysts since the early 1960s, due to their wide variety of framework topologies, compositional flexibility and hydrothermal stability. The possible selection of the microporous structure and of the elements located in framework and extraframework positions enables the design of highly selective catalysts with well-defined active sites of acidic, basic or redox character, opening the path to their application in a wide range of catalytic processes. This versatility and high catalytic efficiency is the key factor enabling their use in the activation and conversion of different alkanes, ranging from methane to long chain n-paraffins. Alkanes are highly stable molecules, but their abundance and low cost have been two main driving forces for the development of processes directed to their upgrading over the last 50 years. However, the availability of advanced characterization tools combined with molecular modelling has enabled a more fundamental approach to the activation and conversion of alkanes, with most of the recent research being focused on the functionalization of methane and light alkanes, where their selective transformation at reasonable conversions remains, even nowadays, an important challenge. In this review, we will cover the use of microporous zeolite-type materials as components of mono- and bifunctional catalysts in the catalytic activation and conversion of C₁⁺ alkanes under non-oxidative or oxidative conditions. In each case, the alkane activation will be approached from a fundamental perspective, with the aim of understanding, at the molecular level, the role of the active sites involved in the activation and transformation of the different molecules and the contribution of shape-selective or confinement effects imposed by the microporous structure.

Recent Advances on Gallium-Modified ZSM-5 for Conversion of Light Hydrocarbons

Light olefins are key components of modern chemical industry and are feedstocks for the production of many commodity chemicals widely used in our daily life. It would be of great economic significance to convert light alkanes, produced during the refining of crude oil or extracted during the processing of natural gas selectively to value-added products, such as light alkenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, etc., through catalytic dehydrogenation. Among various catalysts developed, Ga-modified ZSM-5-based catalysts exhibit superior catalytic performance and stability in dehydrogenation of light alkanes. In this mini review, we summarize the progress on synthesis and application of Ga-modified ZSM-5 as catalysts in dehydrogenation of light alkanes to olefins, and the dehydroaromatization to aromatics in the past two decades, as well as the discussions on in-situ formation and evolution of reactive Ga species as catalytic centers and the reaction mechanisms.

Recent progress in heterogeneous metal and metal oxide catalysts for direct dehydrogenation of ethane and propane

Metal and metal oxide catalysts for non-oxidative ethane/propane dehydrogenation are outlined with respect to catalyst synthesis, structure–property relationship and catalytic mechanism.

In-Exchanged CHA Zeolites for Selective Dehydrogenation of Ethane: Characterization and Effect of Zeolite Framework Type

In this study, the characterization of In-exchanged CHA zeolite (In-CHA (SiO2/Al2O3 = 22.3)) was conducted by in-situ X-ray diffraction (XRD) and ammonia temperature-programmed desorption (NH3-TPD). We also prepared other In-exchanged zeolites with different zeolite structures (In-MFI (SiO2/Al2O3 = 22.3), In-MOR (SiO2/Al2O3 = 20), and In-BEA (SiO2/Al2O3 = 25)) and different SiO2/Al2O3 ratios (In-CHA(Al-rich) (SiO2/Al2O3 = 13.7)). Their catalytic activities in nonoxidative ethane dehydrogenation were compared. Among the tested catalysts, In-CHA(Al-rich) provided the highest conversion. From kinetic experiments and in-situ Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, [InH2]+ ions are formed regardless of SiO2/Al2O3 ratio, serving as the active sites.

Present state of the art of and outlook on oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane: catalysts and mechanisms

Oxidative dehydrogenation of alkanes is a more appropriate approach than other conventional methods of light olefin production. Recently, several researchers have focused on more economical and cleaner processes because of the high demand for olefins and environmental problems. This paper reviews a series of catalysts for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane, including transition-metal oxides, rare earth metal oxides, calcium oxide, supported alkali chlorides, molecular sieves, as well as monolithic, perovskite, and carbon catalysts. Also, a detailed literature review is presented for the comparison of effective parameters such as acid-base property, redox property, oxidant types, and oxygen species. Mechanisms proposed for the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane are also presented. Recommendations for future researches are also discussed based on catalyst design, promotors, and reaction conditions.

Insights into the reaction mechanism of n-hexane dehydroaromatization to benzene over gallium embedded HZSM-5: effect of H2 incorporated on active sites

The catalytic dehydroaromatization of alkanes to aromatics has attracted considerable attention from the scientific community, because it can be used for the upgrading of low-cost alkanes into high added-value aromatics, such as benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX). In this context, we report the reaction mechanism of n-hexane dehydroaromatization to benzene over two different reduced gallium species embedded in HZSM-5, including univalent Ga+ embedded in HZSM-5 (Ga/HZSM-5) and dihydrido gallium complex (GaH2+) embedded in HZSM-5 (GaH2/HZSM-5) by using the M06-2X/6-31G(d,p) level of calculation. The reaction proceeds by following two main steps: (i) the dehydrogenation of hexane to haxa-1,3,5-triene; (ii) the dehydroaromatization of haxa-1,3,5-triene to benzene. For the univalent Ga+ embedded in HZSM-5, the first step of the hexane dehydrogenation is considered to be the rate-determining step, which requires a high activation energy of 76.6 kcal mol-1. In strong contrast to this, in the case of the GaH2/HZSM-5 catalyst the rate determining step is found to be the second hydrogen abstraction from n-hexane with a lower activation barrier of 11.1 kcal mol-1. The reaction is therefore preferentially taking place over the GaH2/HZSM-5 catalyst. These observations clearly confirm the existence of a dihydrido gallium complex (GaH2+) as one of the most active species for the dehydroaromatization of alkanes and it is obtained in the presence of hydrogen in the catalytic system. This example opens up perspectives for a better understanding of the effect of active species on the catalytic reaction.

Unique properties of silver cations in solid-acid catalysis by zeolites and heteropolyacids

Reversible interconversion of Ag⁺ and Ag⁰ occurs in zeolite. Heterolytic dissociation of alkanes including methane and H₂ proceeds over Ag⁺-zeolite.

On the nature of gallium species in gallium-modified mordenite and MFI zeolites. A comparative DRIFT study of carbon monoxide adsorption and hydrogen dissociation

The results of a DRIFT study of carbon monoxide molecular adsorption and hydrogen dissociative adsorption on gallium-modified mordenite and MFI (ZSM-5) zeolites are presented. It was found that in the reduced gallium-modified mordenite (Ga-MOR) both Ga(3+) and Ga(+) exchanged cations are present and can be detected by CO adsorption. Ga(3+) cations in Ga-MOR dissociatively adsorb molecular hydrogen at elevated temperatures, resulting in the formation of gallium hydride species and acidic hydroxyl groups. In the reduced Ga-MFI evacuated at 823 K under medium vacuum conditions only Ga(+) exchanged intrazeolite cations were detected. It was found, however, that Ga(3+) intrazeolite exchanged cations which form upon high-temperature disproportionation of Ga(+) cations in the reduced Ga-MFI and Ga-MOR can be stabilized by high-temperature oxidation of these zeolites.

Direct and Remarkably Efficient Conversion of Methane into Acetic Acid Catalyzed by Amavadine and Related Vanadium Complexes. A Synthetic and a Theoretical DFT Mechanistic Study

Vanadium(IV or V) complexes with N,O- or O,O-ligands, i.e., [VO{N(CH2CH2O)3}], Ca[V(HIDPA)2] (synthetic amavadine), Ca[V(HIDA)2], or [Bu4N]2[V(HIDA)2] [HIDPA, HIDA = basic form of 2,2'-(hydroxyimino)dipropionic or -diacetic acid, respectively], [VO(CF3SO3)2], Ba[VO(nta)(H2O)]2 (nta = nitrilotriacetate), [VO(ada)(H2O)] (ada = N-2-acetamidoiminodiacetate), [VO(Hheida)(H2O)] (Hheida = 2-hydroxyethyliminodiacetate), [VO(bicine)] [bicine = basic form of N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine], and [VO(dipic)(OCH2CH3)] (dipic = pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate), are catalyst precursors for the efficient single-pot conversion of methane into acetic acid, in trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) under moderate conditions, using peroxodisulfate as oxidant. Effects on the yields and TONs of various factors are reported. TFA acts as a carbonylating agent and CO is an inhibitor for some systems, although for others there is an optimum CO pressure. The most effective catalysts (as amavadine) bear triethanolaminate or (hydroxyimino)dicarboxylates and lead, in a single batch, to CH3COOH yields > 50% (based on CH4) or remarkably high TONs up to 5.6 x 103. The catalyst can remain active upon multiple recycling of its solution. Carboxylation proceeds via free radical mechanisms (CH3* can be trapped by CBrCl3), and theoretical calculations disclose a particularly favorable process involving the sequential formation of CH3*, CH3CO*, and CH3COO* which, upon H-abstraction (from TFA or CH4), yields acetic acid. The CH3COO* radical is formed by oxygenation of CH3CO* by a peroxo-V complex via a V{eta1-OOC(O)CH3} intermediate. Less favorable processes involve the oxidation of CH3CO* by the protonated (hydroperoxo) form of that peroxo-V complex or by peroxodisulfate. The calculations also indicate that (i) peroxodisulfate behaves as a source of sulfate radicals which are methane H-abstractors, as a peroxidative and oxidizing agent for vanadium, and as an oxidizing and coupling agent for CH3CO* and that (ii) TFA is involved in the formation of CH3COOH (by carbonylating CH3*, acting as an H-source to CH3COO*, and enhancing on protonation the oxidizing power of a peroxo-VV complex) and of CF3COOCH3 (minor product in the absence of CO).

Theoretical study on the dehydrogenation reaction of alkanes catalyzed by zeolites containing nonframework gallium species

The dehydrogenation reaction of light alkanes in gallium-containing zeolites was studied by using density functional theory (DFT) and a nonframework gallium species in the dihydridegallium ion form. Two different mechanisms were considered: a 3-step mechanism and a 1-step concerted mechanism. The reactions occurring through the 3-step mechanism showed smaller activation barriers than the ones following the concerted mechanism. However, the energy barrier for the 3-step mechanism seems to be more influenced by the size and type (linear or branched) of the hydrocarbon chain and demands major conformational rearrangement, which could be hampered by the zeolite framework, especially for larger and/or branched hydrocarbons. On the other hand, the concerted mechanism seems to be much less dependent on the substrates geometry. Therefore, the concerted mechanism could be preferential when dealing with larger and/or branched alkanes.