Combination of Hollow Capsule Structure and Zn Uniform Load for the Conversion of Methanol to Aromatics over Zn/ZSM-5 Zeolites

As an important nonoil route for acquiring aromatics, the highly efficient conversion of methanol to aromatics over Zn/ZSM-5 zeolites remains an ongoing challenge. In this work, we developed a uniform loading approach of zinc and further combined it with a hollow capsule structure to design the high-performance Zn/ZSM-5 catalyst. The electrostatic assembly among EDTA3-, n-butylamine+ and negative silica-alumina gel gave rise to an "Inorganic-Organic Hybrid Sphere" in form of Na(l+m+n+3x)-(y+z)·{[(SiO)4Al-]l/(SiO-)m(n-butylamine+)y(EDTA3-)x(n-butylamine+)z(SiO-)n, which further transformed into mesoporous aluminosilicates sphere (MASS) through calcination. The characteristic of abundant mesopore guaranteed MASS fantastic ability to evenly incorporate Zn ingredient inside, and the resultant Zn/MASS further served as a "hard template" for the direct synthesis of Hollow Zn/ZSM-5 capsules, rather than after impregnation. When tested in the methanol-to-aromatics (MTA) process, the direct synthesis method not only facilitated the homogeneous dispersion of the Zn ingredient, but also benefited for the generation of more (ZnOH)+ sites and strengthened their synergism with zeolite acid for the superior aromatics selectivity (50.63%). Meanwhile, the hollow capsule structure increased the contact time of MTA intermediate products with the Zn/ZSM-5 shell, and it increased the coke-admitting capacity and suppressed the coke rate, which maintained quite an excellent stability (131 h). Therefore, the above combination of hollow capsule structure and uniform load of Zn ingredient brings forward a wide prospect to develop zeolite materials with excellent properties in catalysis.

Preparation and application of zeolite-zinc oxide nano composite for nitrate removal from groundwater

Nanomaterial assisted removal of pollutants from water has got great attention. This study aimed to remove nitrate from groundwater using zeolite and zeolite-ZnO nanocomposite as synergetic effect. Zeolite-ZnO nanocomposite was prepared using the co-precipitation method. The Physico-chemical characteristics of the nanomaterials were determined using XRD, SEM, and FTIR. The results revealed that; Zeolite-ZnO nanocomposites with 13.12 nm particle size have successfully been loaded into the zeolite. In addition, its chemical composition was determined using AAS. The removal efficiency of nitrate from groundwater was studied using a batch experiment. The removal of nitrate was investigated as a function of adsorbent dose, pH, initial concentration of nitrate, contact time, and agitation speed. Moreover, the adsorption isotherm and kinetics were also determined. The results showed that the removal of nitrate was 92% at an optimum dose of 0.5 g, pH 5, initial nitrate concentration of 50 mg/L, the contact time of 1 h, and agitation speed of 160 rpm. The removal nitrate has been fitted well by the Langmuir isotherm model with correlation coefficients of R² = 0.988. Thus, indicating the applicability of monolayer coverage of the nitrate ion on the surface of the nanocomposite. The adsorption process follows the pseudo-second-order model with a correlation coefficient of R² = 0.997. The results of this work might find application in remediation of water by removing nitrate to meet the standards of water quality.

Zn-P Co-Modified Hierarchical ZSM-5 Zeolites Directly Synthesized via Dry Gel Conversion for Enhanced Methanol to Aromatics Reaction

A unique method to prepare Zn-P co-modified hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites was developed. The ZSM-5 zeolite was directly synthesized by a dry gel conversion without adding any templates or seeds. Afterwards, the hierarchical structure was endowed to the ZSM-5 zeolite by the sequential desilication-dealumination. Zn and P species were then introduced into the hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites by the impregnation method and their activity in methanol to aromatics process was investigated. It was found that the Zn-P co-modified hierarchical ZSM-5 zeolites possessed more Zn-related Lewis acid sites, and the ratio of Zn(OH)+/ZnO was increased. The catalytic evaluation results revealed that the benzene, toluene and xylene (BTX) and aromatics selectivity were significantly improved from 20.59% and 29.41% of pristine ZSM-5 zeolite to 28.12% and 41.88% of Zn-P co-modified hierarchical counterpart (1.5Zn0.3P/HZSM-5), respectively. Owing to the introduced highly stable Zn-P co-modified hierarchical structures, the lifetime (conversion not less than 99%) of ZSM-5 zeolite during methanol to aromatics reaction was increased from 6 h to 18 h.

Realization of rapid synthesis of H-ZSM-5 zeolite by seed-assisted method for aromatization reactions of methanol or methane

H-ZSM-5 zeolites are successfully synthesized within 1 h with an organic template free system by the seed-assisted method. The synthetic method not only reduces the production cost of H-ZSM-5 zeolite, but also decreases the environmental pollution produced compared with that of the conventional synthesis process. Characterization by SEM, XRD, N2 adsorption–desorption, NH3-TPD, and Py-IR confirms that the H-ZSM-5 product has a high crystallinity and reveals that the rapid synthesis process is in accordance with the seed surface crystallization mechanism. To improve the aromatic selectivity on the H-ZSM-5 zeolite, different concentrations of Mo and Zn catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation and the ion-exchange method. Mo-Zn/H-ZSM-5-SAS-1 h have similar catalytic lifetimes and higher selectivity of paraxylene in aromatic products compared with Mo-Zn/H-ZSM-5-seed in the reaction of methanol to aromatic. However, the catalytic lifetime of 6%Mo/H-ZSM-5-SAS-1 h is shorter than that of the 6%Mo/H-ZSM-5-seed catalyst in methane to benzene reaction under the same reaction conditions.

First-principles microkinetic analysis of Lewis acid sites in Zn-ZSM-5 for alkane dehydrogenation and its implication to methanol-to-aromatics conversion

Stabilities and dehydrogenation activities of butane and cyclohexane on four different Zn sites in ZSM-5 zeolite were theoretically revealed. ZnOH⁺ was identified as the most active site at low temperature and the activity increases with the sequence of dehydrogenation.

Tandem catalysts for the conversion of methanol to aromatics with excellent selectivity and stability

A schematic diagram of the construction methods and reaction paths of different catalysts.

State of the Art and Perspectives of Hierarchical Zeolites: Practical Overview of Synthesis Methods and Use in Catalysis

Microporous zeolites have proven to be of great importance in many chemical processes. Yet, they often suffer from diffusion limitations causing inefficient use of the available catalytically active sites. To address this problem, hierarchical zeolites have been developed, which extensively improve the catalytic performance. There is a multitude of recent literature describing synthesis of and catalysis with these hierarchical zeolites. This review attempts to organize and overview this literature (of the last 5 years), with emphasis on the most important advances with regard to synthesis and application of such zeolites. Special attention is paid to the most common and important 10- and 12-membered ring zeolites (MTT, TON, FER, MFI, MOR, FAU, and *BEA). In contrast to previous reviews, the research per zeolite topology is brought together and discussed here. This allows the reader to instantly find the best synthesis method in accordance to the desired zeolite properties. A summarizing graph is made available to enable the reader to select suitable synthesis procedures based on zeolite acidity and mesoporosity, the two most important tunable properties.

Facile Synthesis of Proton-Type ZSM-5 by Using Quasi-Solid-Phase (QSP) Method

Herein, a simple and green quasi-solid-phase (QSP) method for facile synthesis of proton-type ZSM-5 avoiding use of excessive water, dry gel, Na⁺ cation and fluoride is reported. Crystallization by using the stoichiometric amount of TPAOH (tetrapropylammonium hydroxide) at 180 °C for only 12 h gave well-structured HZSM-5 crystals with high specific surface area of 429 m²  g^-1 and high thermal stability. 5MRs was observed to closely relate the formation of MFI structure and QSP method exhibits shorter induction period (t₀ ), higher nucleation rate (V_n ), and faster growth rate (V_g ). Moreover, HZ-12-180 showed extremely better and rather stable catalytic activity for methanol-to-propylene reaction by comparison with commercial HZSM-5.

High-Impact Promotional Effect of Mo Impregnation on Aluminum-Rich and Alkali-Treated Hierarchical Zeolite Catalysts on Methanol Aromatization

A systematic change of HZSM-5 (HZ5) as a catalyst of the methanol to aromatics (MTA) reaction was undertaken by employing a fixed-bed tubular-type reactor under ambient pressure, applying a weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) of 2 h^-1 at 375 °C, as the first report on the application of low-Si/Al-ratio alkaline-[Mo,Na]-HZSM-5 in the MTA process. To characterize the surface and textural properties of the catalysts, powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), nitrogen adsorption/desorption, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia (NH₃-TPD), pyridine-infrared spectroscopy (Py-IR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), and energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) methods were employed. Gas chromatography (GC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) measurements demonstrated a selectivity of up to 86 wt % (65.7 wt % for benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX)) over 2[Mo]HZ5. NH₃-TPD and Py-IR results indicated a sensible decrease of strong acid sites on the impregnated samples, while the surface analyses revealed the highest Lewis acid sites (LAS) together with the largest mesopore surface area for 2[Mo]alk-HZ5, supporting the migration of Mo species to the bulk of the catalysts. Mo impregnation had a minor effect on the observed coke formation in the promoted catalyst.

Transport Phenomena in Zeolites in View of Graph Theory and Pseudo-Phase Transition

Transport phenomena play an essential role in catalysis. While zeolite catalysis is widely applied in industrial chemical processes, its efficiency is often limited by the transport rate in the micropores of the zeolite. Experimental and theoretical methods are useful for understanding the transport phenomena on multiscale levels. Traditional diffusion models usually use a linear driving force and an isotropic continuum medium, such that transport in a hierarchical catalyst structure and the occurrence of nonlinear deactivation cannot be well understood. Due to the presence of spatial confinement and an ordered structure, some aspects of the transport in a zeolite cannot be regarded as continuum phenomena and discrete models are being developed to explain these. Graph theory and small-world networks are powerful tools that have allowed pseudo-phase transition phenomena and other nontrivial relationships to be clearly revealed. Discrete models that include graph theory can build a bridge between microscopic quantum physics and macroscopic catalyst engineering in both the space and time scales. For a fuller understanding of transport phenomena in diverse fields, several theoretical methods need to be combined for a comprehensive multiscale analysis.

Direct synthesis of [B,H]ZSM-5 by a solid-phase method: AlF siting and catalytic performance in the MTP reaction

[B,H]ZSM-5 directly synthesized by a solid-phase method with tuned Al_F siting and acidity exhibited a longer lifetime in the MTP reaction.

Morphology-Controlled Synthesis of H-type MFI Zeolites with Unique Stacked Structures through a One-Pot Solvent-Free Strategy

H-type aluminosilicate zeolites are extensively used as solid-acid catalysts and support materials in industrial catalysis. However, the conventional synthesis methods involving hydrothermal syntheses and ion-exchange processes suffer from severe water pollution and toxic gas emissions. Herein, H-type MFI zeolite catalysts with a unique stacked structure were directly synthesized in the presence of NH₄ F and with the help of zeolite confinement through a solvent-free route without further ion-exchange procedures. A range of ex situ and in situ characterization procedures were used to provide evidence of the simultaneous use of pre-made ZSM-5 and NH₄ F as a confined Al source and mineralizer, respectively. The confined zeolite framework of ZSM-5 prevented the formation of AlF_x species between NH₄ F and Al atoms, ensuring that the prepared samples had desirable acidic properties. Moreover, the resulting morphology could be controlled by using different silica substrates. The obtained H-type MFI zeolites showed excellent catalytic performance in methanol-to-gasoline reactions owing to their unique structure and directly exposed acidic sites. The developed one-pot strategy provides an alternative method for the facile synthesis of H-type zeolites with defined morphology.

New horizon in C1 chemistry: breaking the selectivity limitation in transformation of syngas and hydrogenation of CO2 into hydrocarbon chemicals and fuels

Recent advances in bifunctional catalysis for conversion of syngas and hydrogenation of CO₂ into chemicals and fuels have been highlighted.

Prussian blue coupling with zinc oxide as a protective layer: an efficient cathode for high-rate sodium-ion batteries

Prussian blue coupled with zinc oxide has been synthesized via a facial heat treatment process.

Synthesis of Engineered Zeolitic Materials: From Classical Zeolites to Hierarchical Core-Shell Materials

The term "engineered zeolitic materials" refers to a class of materials with a rationally designed pore system and active-sites distribution. They are primarily made of crystalline microporous zeolites as the main building blocks, which can be accompanied by other secondary components to form composite materials. These materials are of potential importance in many industrial fields like catalysis or selective adsorption. Herein, critical aspects related to the synthesis and modification of such materials are discussed. The first section provides a short introduction on classical zeolite structures and properties, and their conventional synthesis methods. Then, the motivating rationale behind the growing demand for structural alteration of these zeolitic materials is discussed, with an emphasis on the ongoing struggles regarding mass-transfer issues. The state-of-the-art techniques that are currently available for overcoming these hurdles are reviewed. Following this, the focus is set on core-shell composites as one of the promising pathways toward the creation of a new generation of highly versatile and efficient engineered zeolitic substances. The synthesis approaches developed thus far to make zeolitic core-shell materials and their analogues, yolk-shell, and hollow materials, are also examined and summarized. Finally, the last section concisely reviews the performance of novel core-shell, yolk-shell, and hollow zeolitic materials for some important industrial applications.

Understanding of the dissolution–crystallization fabrication strategy towards macro/microporous ZSM-5 single crystals

Amounts of NaOH, Si/Al ratios and crystallization temperature together determine the dissolution–crystallization balance and thus the generation of macropores in ZSM-5 crystals.

Highly active and stable Zn/ZSM-5 zeolite catalyst for the conversion of methanol to aromatics: effect of support morphology

The regulation of the morphology of HZSM-5 zeolite supports on the modification effect of zinc, as well as their subsequent catalytic performance for the methanol-to-aromatics (MTA) process were investigated.

The influence of alkali-treated zeolite on the oxide–zeolite syngas conversion process

The oxide–zeolite process has been attracting widespread attention due to its promising performance in syngas conversion to hydrocarbons with high selectivity and stability.

Insight into the dissolution–crystallization strategy towards macro/meso/microporous Silicalite-1 zeolites and their performance in the Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime

A dissolution–crystallization strategy was investigated to synthesize macro/meso/microporous Silicalite-1.

One pot synthesis of hierarchically macro/microporous ZSM-5 single crystals

Macro/microporous single-crystalline ZSM-5 is fabricated in one pot through an outward dissolution of superficial Al-rich aluminosilicate precursors and simultaneous recrystallization.

Seed-induced and additive-free synthesis of oriented nanorod-assembled meso/macroporous zeolites: toward efficient and cost-effective catalysts for the MTA reaction

A general seed-induced strategy is reported for the synthesis of meso/macroporous zeolites with high catalytic efficiencies for the MTA reaction.

Impact of hierarchical pore structure on the catalytic performances of MFI zeolites modified by ZnO for the conversion of methanol to aromatics

The increase in the pore hierarchy of ZnO/hierarchical H-ZSM-5 catalysts increased the catalyst stability and the yield of aromatics, particularly BTX, from methanol.