Metal-Exchanged β Zeolites as Catalysts for the Conversion of Acetone to Hydrocarbons

Conversion of acetone and mixed ketones to hydrocarbons using HZSM-5 catalyst in the carboxylate platform

In this study, two different feeds were treated to produce hydrocarbons: (1) reagent-grade acetone, and (2) mixed ketones obtained from lignocellulosic biomass via the carboxylate platform. Acetone and mixed ketones underwent catalytic self-condensation over HZSM-5. For acetone, HZSM-5(80) was used, and the experiments were conducted in two sets: (1) vary temperature (305-415°C) at P = 101 kPa (abs) and weight hourly space velocity (WHSV) = 1.3 h-1; (2) vary WHSV (1.3-7.9 h-1) at T = 350 and 415°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs). For acetone over HZSM-5(280), the experiments were conducted in two sets: (1) vary WHSV (1.3-6.5 h-1) at T = 415°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs); and (2) vary WHSV (1.3-11.8 h-1) at P = 790 kPa (abs) and T = 415°C. For mixed ketones, HZSM-5(280) was used at WHSV = 1.9 h-1, T = 430-590°C, and P = 101 kPa (abs). For acetone at higher temperatures, the conversion was 100% and the liquid products were aromatics centered on C8. At low temperatures, conversion was less and the carbon liquid distribution was centered on C9 (mainly mesitylene). For mixed ketones, catalyst deactivation was higher causing product concentrations to change over time, and the highest conversion reached was 40%.

Comparison of surface passivation modification of two mordenite zeolites and their application on the isomerisation of o-ethyltoluene

During the isomerisation of o-ethyltoluene (O-ET) to produce m-ethyltoluene (M-ET) and p-ethyltoluene (P-ET), it is crucial to improve the isomerisation selectivity and reduce side reactions, such as disproportionation, alkyl transfer, and splitting. In this study, in order to improve the selectivities toward M-ET and P-ET during O-ET isomerisation, both the commercial micropore mordenite (HM) and the prepared micro-mesoporous mordenite (HM-M) were treated through chemical liquid deposition using tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and 3,5-dimethylphenylmagnesium bromide (DPB), respectively. Thereafter, their structure, porosity, and acidity were characterized via X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, inductively coupled plasma, N₂ sorption, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of pyridine and 2,6-di-tert-butylpyridine, and thermal analysis. The deposition mechanism of DPB was also discussed. The results showed that TEOS could shrink and block the micropores of mordenite. By contrast, DPB passivated the external surface acidity and did not affect the micropore structure. Moreover, HM modified using DPB significantly shortened the self-coking process, improved the product selectivities for M-PT and P-ET as well as their stability, and prolonged the catalytic life. When the amount of magnesium oxide (MgO) deposited on the HM zeolite was 4%, the product selectivities toward M-ET and P-ET increased from 67.27% to 77.54%, and the yields of M-ET and P-ET increased from 47.57% to 52.98%. However, the performance of the catalyst was not significantly enhanced on the HM-M, owing to the passivation of acidic sites in the mesopores by the TEOS and DPB.

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.

Sustainable Production of Hydrogen by Steam Reforming of Ethanol Using Cobalt Supported on Nanoporous Zeolitic Material

Cobalt catalysts supported on Y zeolite and mesoporized Y zeolite (Y-mod) have been studied in steam reforming of ethanol (SRE). Specifically, the effect of the mesoporosity and the acidity of the y zeolite as a support has been explored. Mesoporous were generated on Y zeolite by treatment with NH4F and the acidity was neutralized by Na incorporation. Four cobalt catalysts supported on Y zeolite have been prepared, two using Y zeolite without mesoporous (Co/Y, Co/Y-Na), and two using Y zeolite with mesoporous (Co/Y-mod and Co/Y-mod-Na). All catalysts showed a high activity, with ethanol conversion values close to 100%. The main differences were found in the distribution of the reaction products. Co/Y and Co/Y-mod catalysts showed high selectivity to ethylene and low hydrogen production, which was explained by their high acidity. On the contrary, neutralization of the acid sites could explain the higher hydrogen selectivity and the lower ethylene yields exhibited by the Co/Y-Na and Co/Y-mod-Na. In addition, the physicochemical characterization of these catalysts by XRD, BET surface area, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), and TEM allowed to connect the presence of mesoporous with the formation of metallic cobalt particles with small size, high dispersion, and with high interaction with the zeolitic support, explaining the high reforming activity exhibited by the co/y-mod-Na sample as well as its higher hydrogen selectivity. It has been also observed that the formation of coke is affected by the presence of mesoporous and acidity. Both properties seem to have an opposite effect on the reforming catalyst, decreasing and increasing the coke deposition, respectively.

Methanol to Gasoline Conversion over CuO/ZSM-5 Catalyst Synthesized Using Sonochemistry Method

In this research, the catalytic conversion of methanol to gasoline range hydrocarbons has been studied over CuO (5 %)/ZSM-5 and CuO (7 %)/ZSM-5 catalysts prepared via sonochemistry methods. Conversion of methanol to gasoline (MTG) has been carried out in a fixed bed reactor under atmospheric pressure and 400˚C temperature, over copper oxide on the synthesized ZSM-5 catalyst. The samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, and FTIR techniques; in which good crystallinity and high specific surface area of synthesized zeolite were proved after impregnation of zeolite with copper. The present investigation suggests that the CuO/ZSM-5 catalyst made by sonochemistry method can increase the yield toward hydrocarbon production. It was concluded that impregnation of zeolite with copper oxide can alter the Brønsted/Lewis acid sites ratio and provide new Lewis acid sites over the surface of the ZSM-5. The main products of methanol to gasoline reaction over the catalyst that prepared via sonochemistry method were toluene, xylene, ethylbenzene, ethyl toluene, tetra methylbenzene, diethyl benzene and butylbenzene. The total amount of aromatics in the products was 80 % by using this catalyst. Our results suggest that catalyst synthesized by using sonochemistry shows better production yield toward hydrocarbons by affecting the distribution of active sites on the surface of the ZSM-5.

Catalytic aromatization of acetone as a model compound for biomass-derived oil under a methane environment

The upgrading of acetone as a biomass-derived liquid into valuable chemicals could lead to a cost-effective and sustainable replacement for petroleum-derived products.

Chemo- and regioselective head-to-tail heterodimerization of vinylarenes with 1,1-diphenylethene over a heterogeneous catalyst (Snβ zeolite)

Highly chemo- and regioselective heterodimerization of vinylarenes with 1,1-diphenylethene to form the corresponding alkenes using heterogeneous catalyst (Snβ zeolite) is reported for the first time.

Production of renewable aviation fuel range alkanes from algae oil

Jet fuels produced from sources other than petroleum are receiving considerable attention since they offer the potential to diversify energy supplies while mitigating the net environmental impact of aviation.

Paramagnetic relaxation enhancement solid-state NMR studies of heterogeneous catalytic reaction over HY zeolite using natural abundance reactant

Paramagnetic relaxation enhancement solid-state NMR (PRE ssNMR) technique was used to investigate catalytic reaction over zeolite HY. After introducing paramagnetic Cu(II) ions into the zeolite, the enhancement of longitudinal relaxation rates of nearby nuclei, i.e.(29)Si of the framework and (13)C of the absorbents, was measured. It was demonstrated that the PRE ssNMR technique facilitated the fast acquisition of NMR signals to monitor the heterogeneous catalytic reaction (such as acetone to hydrocarbon) using natural abundance reactants.

Metal ion-exchanged zeolites as highly active solid acid catalysts for the green synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol

The application of metal ion-exchanged zeolites as highly efficient catalysts for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate from glycerol carbonylation is reported.

Selective hydrodeoxygenation of bio-oil derived products: ketones to olefins

A catalytic system designed for mild hydrodeoxygenation of ketones to olefins was investigated. Hydrogenation of ketones to alcohols was accomplished over metal catalysts and the alcohol produced was then dehydrated over acidic catalysts.

Metal ion-exchanged zeolites as solid acid catalysts for the green synthesis of nopol from Prins reaction

The application of metal ion-exchanged zeolites as highly active and selective catalysts for the synthesis of nopol from the Prins reaction of β-pinene is reported.

Effect of ion energies on the surface interactions of NO formed in nitrogen oxide plasma systems

The contributions of various gas-phase species in surface reactions are of significant value to assess and improve catalytic substrates for abatement of vehicular emissions. The impact of ions on surface scatter of NO radicals is investigated with an aim toward improving and tailoring surfaces for the reduction or removal of nitrogen oxide (N(x)O(y)) species via inductively coupled plasmas (ICPs). Nascent ions are monitored via mass spectrometry and energy analysis for a variety of N(x)O(y) precursor gases. The total average ion energy (<E(i)>(total)) determined for all ions within each respective plasma system shows a strong positive correlation with applied rf power and a negative correlation with system pressure. The imaging of radicals interacting with surfaces (IRIS) technique was used to determine the role ions play in the surface scatter of NO radicals. The net effect of ions on substrate processing is largely dependent upon <E(i)>(total). Scatter coefficients (S), determined for ion-limited and ion-rich plasma systems were used to correlate <E(i)>(total) and scatter. The resultant effect is that ions play a substantial role in scatter of NO only when <E(i)>(total) > ~50 eV. The majority of systems studied contained ions below this energy threshold, suggesting knowledge of ion energies is integral to appropriately controlling the chemistry occurring between the gas-phase and surface.