Influence of homogeneous decane oxidation on the catalytic performance of lean NO x catalysts

Extensive homogeneous gasphase reactions were observed when decane was used as the hydrocarbon reductant for the selective reduction of NO _x . The catalytic performance of a SnO₂/CoO _x /Al₂O₃ catalyst was found to be strongly dependent on the extent of the homogeneous reaction in the precatalytic volume. The effect of the homogeneous reaction on the catalytic performance also depended on whether SO₂ was present in the feed. By filling the precatalytic volume with 25–35 mesh irregularly shaped quartz chips, gasphase reaction was suppressed significantly. This methodology was used to evaluate the inherent catalytic performance of SnO₂/CoO _x /Al₂O₃ and SnO₂/Al₂O₃ catalysts with decane as a reductant. It was found that in the absence of SO₂, SnO₂/Al₂O₃ was a better catalyst than SnO₂/CoO _x /Al₂O₃, but in the presence of 30 ppm of SO₂ the latter was a far better catalyst.     

Lean NOx catalysis over alumina‐supported catalysts

aluminasupported catalysts show promise as lean NO_x catalysts. The role of alumina in influencing the structural and chemical properties of the active phase supported on it is discussed using some effective aluminabased lean NO_x catalysts. These include Ag/Al₂O₃, CoO_x/Al₂O₃ and SnO₂/Al₂O₃. Alumina plays an important role in stabilizing Ag in the oxidic phase and cobalt in the 2+ oxidation state. For SnO₂/Al₂O₃, alumina increases the SnO₂ surface area. On both Ag/Al₂O₃ and SnO₂/Al₂O₃, alumina also participates actively in the NO_x reduction reaction. An active organic intermediate is formed on Ag or Sn oxide which reacts with NO_x subsequently on alumina to form N₂.     

Formation and reactions of isocyanic acid during the catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides

Reactions which can produce and consume isocyanic acid (HNCO) over two types of catalysts active for the reduction of nitrogen oxides have been investigated. More than 1000 ppm HNCO can be produced by the reduction of 3000 ppm NO with H₂/CO mixtures over a Pt/SiO₂ catalyst. Complete hydrolysis of HNCO to ammonia and carbon dioxide occurs if even weakly catalytic materials, such as CeO₂/SiO₂ and BaO/SiO₂, are placed downstream. Isocyanic acid is also involved as an intermediate in the reaction of nitromethane over CoZSM5 and CuZSM5 under the conditions of hydrocarbon SCR. In the initial stages of reaction there is complete conversion through to N₂ with CuZSM5 but the process stops at ammonia with CoZSM5 at temperatures below 350°C. In both cases, but especially with CoZSM5, isocyanic acid becomes observable as the catalyst deactivates during continuous exposure at temperatures below about 290°C. In situ FTIR measurements indicate that deactivation is due to a reaction between isocyanic acid and ammonia which generates cyclic striazine compounds.     

CO oxidation catalyzed by Cu‐exchanged zeolites: a density functional theory study

The catalytic oxidation of CO by Cuexchanged highsilica zeolites (e.g., ZSM5) has been investigated theoretically using density functional theory. Calculations reveal two distinct, parallel pathways for oxidation of CO: (i) adsorption of O₂= on a reduced Cu site followed by O atom abstraction by CO, and (ii) adsorption of CO followed by its reaction with O₂= to form a cyclic compound which decomposes to form CO₂=. The reduced site is regenerated via two different pathways, both of which involve oxidation of one or more CO molecules: (i) abstraction of atomic oxygen by CO from the oxidized active site, and (ii) formation of a carbonate species followed by its reaction with a molecule of CO. The relevance of these reactions to the reduction of NO is discussed.     

A study of the acidic and catalytic properties of pure and sulfated zirconia–titania and zirconia–silica mixed oxides

Protonated pyridine (PyH⁺) was not found on ZrO₂ (Z) or ZrO₂–TiO₂ (ZT), but was detected on sulfated oxides (ZS, ZTS) by IR spectroscopy. In contrast, ZrO₂–SiO₂ samples containing about 30–80 mol% ZrO₂ showed Brønsted acidity both in nonsulfated (ZS) and sulfated (ZSS) forms. The total acidity was determined by NH₃TPD. Introduction of sulfate ions increased the sitespecific catalytic activity (TOF) in the conversion of cyclopropane or nhexane. The effect of sulfate ions was more significant on samples rich in zirconia. Results suggest that Zr is homogeneously distributed in ZS samples rich in silica. Zirconiabound dimeric sulfate, generating strong acidity, could not be formed in these preparations due to the absence of fairly large ZrO₂ domains.     

Catalytic behaviour and characterisation of CuO1−z(La2O3)z/2 based catalysts deposited on γ-Al2O3 and prepared in situ with 0.0 ⩽z⩽1.00, without and with addition of Pd

(CuO)_1–z(La₂O₃)_z/2 based catalysts with 0.0z1.0 supported on -Al₂O₃ have been prepared in situ and the phases formed have been identified by XRD, SEM and TEM/EDS studies. The catalyst with z=0.5 exhibited the best catalytic activity for oxidation of CO (T ₅₀=295 and 390C with degrees of conversions of 93 and 92% at 450C under rich and lean conditions, respectively) and C₃H₆ (291 and 414C; 93 and 83%) and reduction of NO (405C; 60 and 0%). This catalyst contained appreciable amounts of the perovskite phase LaAl_1–xCu_xO₃ and the enhanced catalytic properties are ascribed to the presence of this phase. Addition of Pd to this catalyst implied that the degree of conversion of NO increased and that the light-off temperatures for all involved gas species decreased. Ageing experiments revealed that LaAl_1–xCu_xO₃ decomposed and that Cu containing Pd particles were formed during this procedure which in turn deteriorated the catalytic properties of the catalyst.     

Trends for mono‐aromatic compounds hydrogenation over sulfided Ni, Mo and NiMo hydrotreating catalysts

The relative hydrogenation activity in typical hydrotreating conditions of toluene, mxylene, 1,3,5trimethylbenzene and 1,2,4,5tetramethylbenzene was unexpectedly found to decrease over a sulfided NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst and to increase over sulfided Ni/Al₂O₃ and Mo/Al₂O₃ catalysts. This change of activity trend is tentatively interpreted by the formation of a mixed NiMoS phase with a different electronic state compared to Ni or Mo sulfide phases. The nature of the aromatic compound influences strongly the magnitude of the promotion effect of Ni on the activity of the Mo in the sulfided NiMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Ambient temperature oxidation of carbon monoxide using a Cu2Ag2O3 catalyst

The mixed copper–silver oxide, Cu₂Ag₂O₃, has been prepared by co-precipitation and tested for ambient temperature carbon monoxide oxidation. The catalyst demonstrated appreciable low temperature oxidation activity and the catalyst aged for 4 h was the most active. Carbon monoxide conversion increased with time-on-stream, reaching steady state after ca. 1000 min. Acomparison of the catalytic activity has been made with a representative sample of a high activity hopcalite, mixed copper/manganese oxide catalyst. On the basis of CO oxidation rate data corrected for the effect of catalyst surface area the Cu₂Ag₂O₃, aged for 4 h was at least as active as the hopcalite.     

High‐activity catalyst of SO 4 2− /ZrO2 supported on γ‐Al2O3 for n‐butane isomerization

A series of Al₂O₃supported SO ₄ ^2– /ZrO₂ superacid catalysts (named SZ/Al₂O₃) were prepared by a precipitation method and their catalytic behavior for nbutane isomerization at low temperature in the absence of H₂ and at high temperature in the presence of H₂ was studied in this paper. The catalytic activities of some of these catalysts were enhanced significantly at both low and high temperatures. At 250°C after 6 h on stream, the steady activity of the most active sample, 60%SZ/Al₂O₃, is about two times higher than that of conventional SZ. The texture properties of catalysts were studied by the methods of XRD and the adsorption of N₂. Experimental evidence of IR of adsorbed pyridine indicates that the significant activity enhancements of SZ/Al₂O₃ catalysts are caused by the increasing of the amount of strong acid sites.     

Chemistry of Combustion Waves in Substances with a Complicated Structure of Reagent Molecules. 1. Structure of the Front of Rich Isopentane Flame

Results on the structure of the lowtemperature relaxation zone of the front of a laminar Bunsen flame of isoC₅H₁₂ (2methylbutane) under atmospheric pressure are presented. The flame of a premixed mixture isoC₅H₁₂ + O₂ + Ar with a fueltoair equivalence ratio of 1.7 is examined. The mass fluxes, total rates of reactions of matter consumption and expenditure, balance of substances, and profiles of bulk heatrelease rates are calculated on the basis of the experimental concentration and temperature profiles. The results obtained indicate that there is a vast region of lowtemperature conversion of isopentane in the flame front. It is found that only part of the products sampled by the microprobe from different points of the flame front results from transformations in the lowtemperature region, namely, oxygen, isopentane, water, carbon monoxide, propane, methane, and methanol. Ethylene, propylene, hydrogen dioxide, and formaldehyde are present in the lowtemperature zone in insignificant amounts; they are secondary products of conversion of methyl and propyl radicals. It is assumed that the observed feature is a result of the competing interaction of two mechanisms of fuelmixture conversion: selfcatalysis and thermal selfacceleration. Based on the previously suggested mechanism of oxidation pyrolysis by the scheme of intramolecular quadratic destruction, experimentally observed fragmentation of the isopentane molecule is demonstrated. In contrast to npentane, formation of methyl alcohol has been found in isopentane convection products.     

Synthesis of nanosized platinum cluster in cubic mesoporous material via a direct introduction method

Platinumclustercontaining cubic mesoporous material (PtMCM48) has been synthesized by direct introduction of chloroplatinic acid during the synthesis of MCM48. In addition, we have also studied the incipient wetness impregnation and ionexchange method to obtain the platinumcontaining cubic mesoporous material. The nature of the platinumMCM48 catalyst has been characterized by different techniques such as XRD, N₂ adsorption, TEM, XPS, and NMR. The catalyst obtained by direct introduction of platinum in the synthesis gel shows higher activity in the hydrogenation of benzene and toluene.     

Dehydration of 2‐methylbutanal to isoprene using aluminium phosphate catalysts

The synthesis of isoprene from the dehydration of 2methylbutanal is described using aluminium phosphates as catalysts. Two samples of aluminium phosphate are studied prepared from the reaction of phosphoric acid with aluminium chloride or sulphate. The chloride route gives a mixed cristobalite/tridymite AlPO₄ and this is shown to be more active than a catalyst containing only the tridymite form of AlPO₄ formed from the sulphate route. The AlPO₄ catalysts are also shown to be active catalysts for the synthesis of isoprene from 3methylbutan2one, which is the major byproduct formed from the reaction of 2methylbutanal. The AlPO₄ catalysts are deactivated due to the deposition of coke in addition to loss of phosphorus from the surface. Catalytic activity can be totally restored by a simple calcination procedure at 800°C.     

Reductive transamination of methoxyacetone with benzylamine over Pd/SiO2 catalyst modified with anchored chiral compounds

Methoxyacetone was transaminated with benzylamine to methoxyisopropylamine over a Pd/SiO₂ catalyst modified with Lalaninol or Lphenylalaninol covalently anchored to the surface of the support via an organosilicon spacer group. In the first step of transamination a Schiff base was formed from the ketone and benzylamine, and then it was hydrogenated in the second step on the chirally modified Pd/SiO₂ catalysts to an asymmetric secondary amine (Nbenzylmethoxyisopropylamine). In the third step the hydrogenolysis of the asymmetric secondary amine resulting in methoxyisopropylamine and toluene was carried out over a 10 wt% Pd/C catalyst. The highest enantiomeric excess of (S)methoxyisopropylamine was observed in cyclohexane (ee = –20–21%) using anchored Lalaninol as a chiral modifier.     

Methane oxidation over PdO x : on the mechanism for the hysteresis in activity and oxygen content

A conceptual picture is developed to explain the peculiar kinetic features of methane oxidation over supported Pd catalysts (observed by several investigators), notably the hysteresis in activity accompanying temperature cycles. Experiments were performed with supported Pdcatalysts to illustrate these features. The activity hysteresis is closely coupled with a hysteresis in oxygen content. The latter is in turn attributed to the properties of the PCT-diagram of the involved three-phase system; gas phase O₂ and the two solid phases, Pd and PdO_x. The two main ingredients in the mechanism are: (i) the so-called absorption and decomposition plateau pressures for the O₂-Pd-PdO _x system are different, i.e., show a hysteresis, (ii) these pressures are not independent ofx, but increase with increasing oxygen content. Both features are deviations from the ideal three-phase system and are frequently observed for H₂-metalmetal hydride systems.     

The Preferential Oxidation of CO: Selective Combinatorial Activity and Infrared Studies

From EXAFS (extended X-ray absorption fine structure) analysis, gold was found to have mainly oxygen in its nearest coordination shell in the fresh Au/-Al₂O₃ catalyst prepared by AuCl₃ impregnation and vacuum drying at room temperature. After thermal treatment under helium, chlorine appeared within the nearest neighbors of gold and more chlorine showed up as the treatment temperature was increased from 323 to 473K. No reduced Au species was observed up to 473K under He. However, the gold became reduced during CO oxidation at 373K and above. The precursor AuCl₃ was found to deposit on -Al₂O₃ via bonding to surface hydroxyl groups. This catalyst showed nearly 100% CO conversion at 573K, but a very low activity at 373 K under the conditions used in this study. Neither the residual chlorine nor the extent of reduction can explain the low activity at lower temperatures.     

Surface structure and metathesis activity of photoreduced allyl‐based Mo/SiO2 catalysts

XPS and metathesis activity studies were performed on oxidic allylbased Mo/SiO₂ catalysts (0.5 wt% Mo) and the oxidic catalyst following photoreduction to various extents. XPS results and average oxidation state measurements from the amount of CO₂ formed during photoreduction, indicated that controlled photoreduction of the oxidic catalyst, in CO atmosphere, produces a mixture of Mo⁶⁺ and Mo⁴⁺ oxidation states with Mo⁴⁺ in abundances ranging from 0 to 100%. Propene metathesis activity studies were performed on the oxidic and photoreduced allylbased Mo/SiO₂ catalysts. The results indicated that metathesis activity appears on photoreduction and increases linearly with increasing abundance of Mo⁴⁺ present on the catalyst. The linear relationship between the % propene conversion and the % Mo⁴⁺ present on the catalyst is consistent with the proposed uniformity of the Mo species and with the hypothesis that the active site (or active site precursor) is associated with Mo⁴⁺.     

Methane partial oxidation by silica‐supported iron phosphate catalysts. Influence of iron phosphate content on selectivity and catalyst structure

Selective oxidation of methane to methanol and formaldehyde at atmospheric pressure was studied over a series of silicasupported FePO₄ catalysts, with iron phosphate content ranging from 2 to 16 wt%. Performance was evaluated over the range T=773–963 K, GHSV=25,000–65,000 h^–1, and CH₄ : O₂=1. The main products were formaldehyde, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Small, but quantifiable amounts of methanol were also observed. Catalytic activity exhibited a clear dependence on the iron phosphate content. The highest selectivity and space time yield (STY) to formaldehyde and methanol were observed for 2 wt% FePO₄ on silica (STY of 622 and 25 g/kg_cat h, respectively). The selectivity–conversion pattern suggests that methane is oxidized directly to methanol and formaldehyde, and sequentially to carbon oxides. Characterization was performed by Xray powder diffraction, Xray photoelectron spectroscopy, and Mössbauer spectroscopy. Crystalline FePO₄ is observed at all loading levels, however, a significant fraction of the iron (58% at 2 wt% FePO₄) is present in an Xray amorphous phase. Mössbauer spectra suggest that this phase contains iron in fivefold coordination, and with a higher electron density relative to bulk FePO₄. The amount of this fivecoordinate phase present is roughly 1 wt% Fe, independent of total iron loading. XPS confirms the lower effective oxidation state of iron, and indicates that at low loading the surface is enriched in phosphorus relative to bulk FePO₄. It is proposed that iron in fivefold coordinate sites, isolated by phosphate groups, more selectively activates methane than crystalline FePO₄. As loading increases, so does the amount of crystalline FePO₄, which is proposed to more rapidly catalyze sequential oxidation of the selective products.     

Perovskite-type oxide ACo0.8Bi0.2O2.87 (A=La0.8Ba0.2): a catalyst for low-temperature CO oxidation

Perovskite-type oxide ACo_0.8Bi_0.2O_2.87 (A=La_0.8Ba_0.2) has been investigated as a catalyst for the oxidation of carbon monoxide. X-ray diffraction results revealed that the catalyst is single-phase and cubic in structure. The results of chemical analysis indicated that in ACo_0.8Bi_0.2O_2.87, bismuth is pentavalent whereas cobalt is trivalent as well as bivalent; in La_0.8Ba_0.2CoO_2.94, cobalt ions exist as Co³⁺ and Co⁴⁺. The substitution of Bi for Co enhanced the catalytic activity of the perovskite-type oxide significantly. Over the Bi-incorporated catalyst, at equal space velocities and with the rise in CO/O₂ molar ratio, the temperature for 100% CO conversion shifted to a higher range; at a typical space velocity of 30000 h^–1 and a CO/O₂ molar ratio of 0.67/1.00, 100% CO conversion was observed at 250°C. Over ACo_0.8Bi_0.2O_2.87, at equal CO/O₂ molar ratio, the temperature for 100% CO conversion decreased with a drop in space velocity; the lowest being 190°C at a space velocity of 5000 h^–1. The result of O₂-TPD study illustrated that the presence of Bi ions caused the lattice oxygen of La_0.8Ba_0.2CoO_3– to desorb at a lower temperature. The results of TPR, ¹⁸O/¹⁶O isotopic exchange, and CO-pulsing investigations demonstrated that the lattice oxygen of the Bi-doped catalyst is highly mobile.     

Acid‐catalyzed isobutane–isobutylene alkylation in liquid carbon dioxide solution

Liquid carbon dioxide was studied as a solvent for the isobutane–isobutylene alkylation. The acid catalysts in the reaction were anhydrous HF (AHF), pyridinium–poly(hydrogen fluoride) complex (PPHF), concentrated sulfuric acid and trifluoromethanesulfonic acid (TFSA). The effect of the acid–hydrocarbon volume ratio, temperature and residence time on the alkylate quality were studied over the temperature range of 50 T 0 °C. Carbon dioxide as a competing weak base decreases the acidity of the system which parallels the alkylate quality. In the case of HF and TFSA catalysts, solvent CO₂ increased the octane number of the alkylate product (RON 95.6 for HF and 88.0 for TFSAcatalyzed alkylation with CO₂ solvent).     

Combined catalytic partial oxidation and CO2 reforming of methane over supported cobalt catalysts

The combined partial oxidation and CO₂ reforming of methane to synthesis gas was investigated over the reduced Co/MgO, Co/CaO, and Co/SiO₂ catalysts. Only Co/MgO has proved to be a highly efficient and stable catalyst. It provided about 94–95% yields to H₂ and CO at the high space velocity of 105000 mlg^–1h^–1 and for feed ratios CH₄/CO₂/O₂=4/2/1, without any deactivation for a period of study of 110 h. In contrast, the reduced Co/CaO and Co/SiO₂ provided no activity for the formation of H₂ and CO. The structure and reducibility of the calcined catalysts were examined using X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed reduction, respectively. A solid solution of CoO and MgO, which was difficult to reduce, was identified in the 800°C calcined MgO-supported catalyst. The strong interactions induced by the formation of the solid solution are responsible for its superior activity in the combined reaction. The effects of reaction temperature, space velocity, and O₂/CO₂ ratio in the feed gases (while keeping the C/O ratio constant at 1/1) were investigated over the Co/MgO catalyst. The H₂/CO ratio in the product of the combined reaction increased with increasing O₂/CO₂ ratio in the feed.