Selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide containing excess water and ammonia over Bi-V-Sb-O catalysts

We investigated the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur and ammonium thiosulfate by using Bi₄V_2-xSb_xO_11-y catalysts. The catalysts were prepared by the calcination of a homogeneous mixture of Bi₂O₃, V₂O₅, and Sb₂O₃ obtained by ball-milling adequate amounts of the three oxides. The main phases detected by XRD analysis were Bi₄V₂O₁₁, Bi_1.33V₂O₆, BiSbO₄ and BiVO₄. They showed good H₂S conversion with less than 2% of SO₂ selectivity with a feed composition of H₂S/O₂/NH₃/H₂O/He=5/2.5/5/60/27.5 and GHSV=12,000 h^-1 in the temperature ranges of 220–260 ‡C. The highest H₂S conversion was obtained for x=0.2 in Bi₄V_2-xSb_xO_11-y catalyst. TPR/TPO results showed that this catalyst had the highest amount of oxygen consumption. XPS analysis before and after reaction confirmed the least reduction of vanadium oxide phase for this catalyst during the reaction. It means that the catalyst with x=0.2 had the highest reoxidation capacity among the Bi₄V_2-xSb_xO_11-y catalysts.     

Selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide over mixture catalysts of V–Sb–O and Bi2O3

The selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide containing excess water and ammonia was studied over vanadium–antimony mixed oxide catalysts. The investigation was focused on the phase cooperation between V–Sb–O and Bi₂O₃ in this reaction. Strong synergistic phenomenon in catalytic activity was observed for the mechanically mixed catalysts of V–Sb–O and Bi₂O₃. Temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and oxidation (TPO), two separated bed reaction tests, and XPS analyses were carried out to explain this synergistic effect by the reoxidation ability of Bi₂O₃.     

Effect of doping of TiO2 support with altervalent ions on physicochemical and catalytic properties in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane of vanadia–titania catalysts

Vanadia phase (one monolayer) was deposited on TiO₂ anatase doped with Ca²⁺, Al³⁺, Fe³⁺ and W⁶⁺ ions and the catalysts thus obtained (VMeTi) were characterized by XPS, work function technique, decomposition of isopropanol (a probe reaction for acido–basic properties) and tested in oxidative dehydrogenation of propane. The doping of the TiO₂ support modifies physicochemical and catalytic properties of the active vanadia phase with respect to the undoped TiO₂. The specific activity in the propane oxydehydrogenation decreases in the order: VFeTi>VWTi>VTi>VAlTi>VCaTi (3), whereas the selectivity to propene follows the sequence: VWTiVTi>VFeTi>VAlTi>VCaTi. This implies that the lower is the surface energy barrier for transfer of electrons from the catalyst to the reacting molecules the higher is the selectivity to the partial oxidation product. It is argued that owing to the decrease in this energy barrier the reoxidation step in the catalytic reaction, involving such a transfer: O₂+4e→2O²⁻ is fast, thus, preventing the presence of intermediate non-selective electrophilic oxygen species on the surface.     

Selective oxidation of ammonia over copper-silver-based catalysts

A novel catalyst based on copper-silver was developed to solve the contradiction between the high conversion temperature of Cu-based catalyst and low N₂ selectivity of Ag-based catalyst during selective oxidation of ammonium gas. The Cu-Ag-based catalyst (Cu 5 wt.%-Ag 5 wt.%/Al₂O₃) displayed a relatively low complete conversion temperature (<320 °C) with a high N₂ selectivity (>95%). Increasing loading of Cu and Ag decreases N₂ selectivity. The low N₂ selectivity of Ag-based catalyst is possibly related to the formation of Ag₂O crystals. Improvement of N₂ selectivity of Ag-based catalyst was obtained by doping Cu to decrease crystallized Ag₂O phase. The temperature programmed reaction (TPR) data show that N₂O is the main byproduct of oxidation of ammonia at temperature lower than 200 °C. Two bands of nitrate species at 1541 and 1302 cm⁻¹ were observed on Ag 10 wt.%/Al₂O₃ at the temperature higher than 250 °C, which indicates the formation of NO_x during the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia. No nitrate species was observed on Cu 10 wt.%/Al₂O₃ and Cu 5 wt.%-Ag 5 wt.%/Al₂O₃, while only one nitrate species (1543 cm⁻¹) existed on Cu 10 wt.%-Ag 10 wt.%/Al₂O₃. We proposed that mixing Ag with Cu inhibited the formation of NO_x during the selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia over Cu-Ag/Al₂O₃.     

Selective oxidation of H2S to elemental sulfur over chromium oxide catalysts

CrO_x and CrO_x supported on SiO₂ have been found to be active for the selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to elemental sulfur. The catalysts show maximum sulfur yield at a stoichiometric ratio of O₂/H₂S, 0.5. Amorphous Cr₂O₃ exhibits higher yield of sulfur and has stronger resistance against water than supported Cr/SiO₂, especially at low temperatures. At high temperatures above 300°C, the sulfur yield over the supported catalyst becomes similar to amorphous Cr₂O₃ because the Claus reaction occurring on the silica support removes SO₂ to increase the sulfur yield. Active sites are the amorphous monochromate species that can be detected as a strong temperature programmed reduction (TPR) peak at 470°C. Catalytic activity can be correlated with the amount of labile lattice oxygen and the strength of Cr–O bonding. The reaction proceeds via the redox mechanism with participation of lattice oxygen.     

New effective catalysts based on mesoporous nanofibrous carbon for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide

The systems based on granular mesoporous nanofibrous carbonaceous (NFC) materials synthesized by decomposition of hydrocarbons over nickel-containing catalysts are promising catalysts for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide. Sample series of nanofibrous carbon with three main types of their fiber structures and different contents of metal catalysts inherited from the catalysts for their synthesis were studied in this reaction. The correlation between NFC structure and its activity and selectivity in hydrogen sulfide oxidation was determined. The metal inherited from the initial catalysts for the synthesis of NFC influences the activity and selectivity of the resulting carbon catalysts. A particular influence is observed in the case of the catalyst withdrawn from the synthesis reactor at the stage of stationary operation of the metal catalyst (low specific carbon yields per unit weight of the catalyst). The presence of the metal phase results in an increase in the carbon catalyst activity and in a decrease in the selectivity to sulfur. NFC samples with the highest activity and selectivity are nanotubes and those with graphite planes perpendicular to the axis of the fibers. Carbon nanotubes have high selectivity, while samples obtained on copper–nickel catalysts also possess high activity. The promising NFC catalysts provide high conversion and selectivity (almost independent of the molar oxygen/hydrogen sulfide ratio) when a large excess of oxygen is contained in the reaction mixture.     

Selective oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde over V–Mg–O catalysts

The results of a complex investigation of V–Mg–O catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of methanol are presented. The efficiency of vanadium–magnesium oxide catalysts in production of formaldehyde has been evaluated. Strong dependence of the formaldehyde yield and selectivity upon vanadium oxide loading and the conditions of heat treatment of the catalyst were observed. The parameters of the preparation mode for the efficient catalyst were identified. In optimised reaction conditions the V–Mg–O catalysts at the temperature approximate 450 °C ensured the formation of formaldehyde with the yield of 94% at the selectivity of 97%.

No visible changes in the performance of the catalyst (methanol conversion, formaldehyde yield and selectivity) were detected during the 60 h of operation in prolonged runs. Characterization of the catalyst by XRD, IR, and UV methods suggests the formation of species of the pyrovanadate type (Mg₂V₂O₇) with irregular structure on the surface of a V–Mg–O catalyst. These species make the catalyst efficient for methanol ODH.     

Iron—molybdenum—oxide catalysts for selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur

The selective oxidation of hydrogen sulfide to sulfur was studied over iron-molybdenum oxides with various Fe-Mo ratios. Strong synergistic phenomenon in catalytic activity was observed for the Fe-Mo-O binary oxides. Under identical reaction conditions, the areal rates of the binary oxides were superior to those of the corresponding single oxide catalysts, which suggest that the new compound Fe₂(MO₄)₃ formed in the binary oxide is more active than Fe₂O₃ and MoO₃. The oxidation rates of H₂S were found to exhibit first-order dependence on the hydrogen sulfide concentration, which implies that the activation of H₂S is the rate-limiting step.     

Catalytic synthesis of methanethiol from hydrogen sulfide and carbon monoxide over vanadium-based catalysts

The direct synthesis of methanethiol, CH₃SH, from CO and H₂S was investigated using sulfided vanadium catalysts based on TiO₂ and Al₂O₃. These catalysts yield high activity and selectivity to methanethiol at an optimized temperature of 615 K. Carbonyl sulfide and hydrogen are predominant products below 615 K, whereas above this temperature methane becomes the preferred product. Methanethiol is formed by hydrogenation of COS, via surface thioformic acid and methylthiolate intermediates. Water produced in this reaction step is rapidly converted into CO₂ and H₂S by COS hydrolysis.

Titania was found to be a good catalyst for methanethiol formation. The effect of vanadium addition was to increase CO and H₂S conversion at the expense of methanethiol selectivity. High activities and selectivities to methanethiol were obtained using a sulfided vanadium catalyst supported on Al₂O₃. The TiO₂, V₂O₅/TiO₂ and V₂O₅/Al₂O₃ catalysts have been characterized by temperature programmed sulfidation (TPS). TPS profiles suggest a role of V₂O₅ in the sulfur exchange reactions taking place in the reaction network of H₂S and CO.     

Selective oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen on transition metal containing mixed metal oxides

The selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia to nitrogen (NH₃-SCO) has been studied over hydrotalcite derived mixed metal oxides containing Cu, Co, Fe or Ni. XRD, BET, NH₃-TPD and TPR techniques were used for catalysts characterization. Results of NH₃-SCO were compared with those of selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃ (NO-SCR). Reaction mechanism was studied by temperature-programmed surface reaction (TPSR) and activity tests with a various contact time. Catalytic performance of the studied samples depends on both kind and loading of transition metals in the mixed metal oxide system. The Cu-containing samples have been found to be the most active catalysts of the NH₃-SCO process. Transition metal loading strongly influences distribution of ammonia oxidation products. The highest selectivity to N₂ was measured for the catalysts with the lowest transition metal content.     

Iron–ceria–zirconia fluorite catalysts for methane selective oxidation to formaldehyde

Ceria–zirconia catalysts modified by partial substitution of zirconium by iron were investigated for the reaction of the selective oxidation of methane to formaldehyde. The insertion of iron was ensured by the preparation method, based on decomposition of the mixed precursors. The crystalline structure was studied by XRD and the iron state was determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy. The insertion of Fe³⁺ into the lattice of the mixed oxide and the partial substitution of zirconium ions with iron cations up to 25% have not resulted in any phase rejection of the formed iron oxide. The reducibility of Ce⁴⁺ in the modified ternary oxide is enhanced by doping with iron. Despite their low specific surface area, the catalysts are efficient at activating the methane independently of the iron content. The selectivity to formaldehyde strongly depends on the amount of the iron inserted in the mixed oxide.     

Selective oxidation of propane over alkali-doped Mo–V–Sb–O catalysts

Alkali metal-doped MoVSbO catalysts have been prepared by impregnation of a MoVSbO-mixed oxide (prepared previously by a hydrothermal synthesis) and finally activated at 500 or 600 °C in N₂. The catalysts have been characterized and tested for the selective oxidation of propane and propylene. Alkali-doped catalysts improved in general the catalytic performance of MoVSbO, resulting more selective to acrylic acid and less selective to acetic acid than the corresponding alkali-free MoVSbO catalysts. However, the specific behaviour strongly depends on both the alkali metal added and/or the final activation temperature. At isoconversion conditions, catalysts activated at 600 °C present selectivity to acrylic acid higher than that achieved on those activated at 500 °C, both K-doped catalysts presenting the highest yield to acrylic acid. The changes in the number of acid sites as well as the nature of crystalline phases can explain the catalytic behaviour of alkali-doped MoVSbO catalysts.     

氧化吸收硫化氢的新工艺研究

研究了二氧化锰氧化法吸收硫化氢的新工艺，考查了酸度、时间、温度等条件对吸收硫化氢工艺的影响，确定了适合的工艺参数。较合适的条件为：一段，溶液体积0．3L、硫酸浓度0．4mol／L、温度为室温、二氧化锰用量10g；二段，溶液体积0．5L、硫酸浓度0．4mol／L、温度为室温、二氧化锰用量10g。氧化剂二氧化锰被还原为硫酸锰可用氧化水解的方法再生，循环使用。研究结果表明，采用氧化吸收新工艺可以使硫化氢气体的吸收率大于97％，而且二氧化锰可以通过氧化水解的方式再生，实现了氧化剂的再生和循环利用。     

Selective oxidation of propane to oxygenates over mesoporous SBA-15-supported potassium catalysts

As a novel catalyst system for the selective oxidation of low alkanes, mesoporous SBA-15-supported potassium catalysts were firstly employed for the selective oxidation of propane to oxygenates by using molecular oxygen as oxidant. It was found, compared with bare mesoporous SBA-15, that the selectivities to the oxygenates including formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acrolein and acetone were remarkably enhanced over K _x /SBA-15(K:Si = x:100, mol) catalysts, and the main products were acrolein and acetone. At 500 °C, the yield of the oxygenates can reach 464% over K_3.0/SBA-15, which is the highest value over SBA-15–supported potassium catalysts. The catalysts were characterized by XRD and BET techniques. The results demonstrated that the catalytic performance was strongly dependent on the potassium content of the catalysts. Furthermore, the highly dispersed potassium on the catalyst surface was shown to be important to orientate the reaction toward the production of oxygenates. The obtained results showed that mesoporous structure, uniform pore sizes and appropriate pore surface area were favorable for the selective oxidation of propane. The samples with moderate amount of potassium promoted the selectivity to the oxygenates.     

Gold catalysts supported on mesoporous titania for low-temperature water–gas shift reaction

Mesoporous titania with high surface area and uniform pore size distribution was synthesized using surfactant templating method through a neutral [C₁₃(EO)₆–Ti(OC₃H₇)₄] assembly pathway. The different gold content (1–5 wt.%) was supported on the mesoporous titania by deposition–precipitation (DP) method. The catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, TEM, SEM, N₂ adsorption analysis and TPR. The catalytic activity of gold supported mesoporous titania was evaluated for the first time in water–gas shift reaction (WGSR). The influence of gold content and particle size on the catalytic performance was investigated. The catalytic activity was tested at a wide temperature range (140–300 °C) and at different space velocities and H₂O/CO ratios. It is clearly revealed that the mesoporous titania is of much interest as potential support for gold-based catalyst. The gold/mesoporous titania catalytic system is found to be effective catalyst for WGSR.     

Detoxication of water containing 1,1-dimethylhydrazine by catalytic oxidation with dioxygen and hydrogen peroxide over Cu- and Fe-containing catalysts

A number of Cu- and Fe-hydroxide containing catalysts, supported on oxide carriers, were prepared to provide the removal of 1,1-dimethylhydrazine from aqueous solutions via its oxidation by hydrogen peroxide and air oxygen. The Cu-containing samples as well as Fe/ZSM-5 are the most active catalysts in this reaction. The reaction products were analyzed by gas chromatography and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The effect of nature of the oxidizer and catalyst, pH and temperature on both the reaction rate and product composition was studied.     

Selective hydroxylation of phenol employing Cu–MCM-41 catalysts

We studied the oxidation reaction of phenol in aqueous and acetonitrile media under mild conditions, employing Cu-modified MCM-41 mesoporous catalysts. The stability of the catalysts under reaction conditions was confirmed by XRD, UV–VIS and FTIR techniques. Results obtained indicate that the selective oxidation of phenol with H₂O₂ by a radical substitution mechanism produces three main reaction products: catechol, hydroqinone and benzoquinone.     

Selective oxidation of propane and ethane on diluted Mo–V–Nb–Te mixed-oxide catalysts

Te-free and Te-containing Mo–V–Nb mixed oxide catalysts were diluted with several metal oxides (SiO₂, γ-Al₂O₃, α-Al₂O₃, Nb₂O₅, or ZrO₂), characterized, and tested in the oxidation of ethane and propane. Bulk and diluted Mo–V–Nb–Te catalysts exhibited high selectivity to ethylene (up to 96%) at ethane conversions <10%, whereas the corresponding Te-free catalysts exhibited lower selectivity to ethylene. The selectivity to ethylene decreased with the ethane conversion, with this effect depending strongly on the diluter and the catalyst composition. For propane oxidation, the presence of diluter exerted a negative effect on catalytic performance (decreasing the formation of acrylic acid), and α-Al₂O₃ can be considered only a relatively efficient diluter. The higher or lower interaction between diluter and active-phase precursors, promoting or hindering an unfavorable formation of the active and selective crystalline phase [i.e., Te₂M₂₀O₅₇ (M = Mo, V, and Nb)], determines the catalytic performance of these materials.     

Recent progress in Japan on hot gas cleanup of hydrogen chloride, hydrogen sulfide and ammonia in coal-derived fuel gas

The present review paper highlights on the recent progress in Japan on the hot gas cleanup of HCl, H₂S and NH₃ in raw fuel gas for coal-based, combined cycle power generation technologies. It has been shown that NaAlO₂, prepared by mixing Na₂CO₃ solution with Al₂O₃ sol, can reduce HCl in an air-blown gasification gas from the initial 200 ppm to < 1 ppm at 400 °C, and it is tolerable for 200 ppm H₂S. With regard to the removal of H₂S, studies on the stability and durability of ZnFe₂O₄ sorbent in a simulated fuel gas have indicated the presence of an optimal operation temperature from the viewpoint of the suppression of both vaporization of metallic Zn and carbon formation from CO. High-performance TiO₂-supported ZnFe₂O₄, which can decrease 1000 ppm H₂S to < 1 ppm at 450 °C and 1 MPa, has been developed by the homogeneous precipitation method using a mixture of SiO₂ sol and an aqueous solution of Zn and Fe nitrates, followed by mixing with TiO₂. Although this sorbent is regenerable and durable, the sorption ability should be improved in a syngas-rich fuel gas from an O₂-blown gasifier. A novel method to prepare carbon-supported ZnFe₂O₄ and CaFe₂O₄ by impregnating the corresponding nitrate solution with brown coal has been proposed, and the large desulfurization capacity of almost 100% has been achieved in the removal of 4000 ppm H₂S around 450 °C. The present authors have demonstrated that an Australian limonite rich in α-FeOOH is practically feasible as the catalyst material for the decomposition of 2000 ppm NH₃ in a syngas-rich gas of 25 vol.% H₂/50 vol.% CO at 750 °C, because small amounts of H₂O and CO₂ added to the gas can work efficiently for inhibiting carbon deposition from the CO.