Conversion of CCl2F2 (CFC-12) in the presence and absence of H2 on sol–gel derived Pd/Al2O3 catalysts

Conversion of CCl₂F₂ in the presence (hydrogenolysis) and absence of hydrogen was investigated on Al₂O₃, AlF₃ and Pd/Al₂O₃ xerogel and aerogel catalysts. CCl₂F₂ was found to form CClF₃ and CCl₃F on Al₂O₃ and AlF₃ in the presence and absence of hydrogen as well as on the Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts in the absence of hydrogen. Overall activity increased during the hydrogenolysis reactions at 230°C as a function of time which was paralleled by a significant increase in the yield of CClF₃ formed through a Cl/F-exchange reaction. X-ray diffraction patterns of the spent catalyst recovered after 3 h of hydrogenolysis confirmed the presence of Pd(C) (Pd–carbon solid solution) and AlF₃ phases on Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts indicated that the carbon incorporation into the Pd lattice and the transformation of Al₂O₃ to AlF₃ starts at the initial stage of the reaction. It was concluded that AlF₃ is responsible for the Cl/F-exchange reactions. CH₄, a complete hydrogenation product, is formed during hydrogenolysis. Another route for its formation is the reaction between hydrogen in the gas phase and the interstitial carbon.     

Comparison of the SiH4---C2H4 and SiH2Cl2---C2H4 systems during the synthesis of silicon carbide ultrafine particles by laser-induced gas-phase reaction

The synthesis conditions of SiC ultrafine particles from SiH₄ and C₂H₄ using a CO₂ laser were studied and a comparison was made between SiH₄---C₂H₄ and SiH₂Cl₂---C₂H₄ systems. Ultrafine SiC particles were synthesized by irradiating a SiH₄ and C₂H₄ gas mixture with a CO₂ laser at atmospheric pressure. SiC particles were obtained at a laser power of more than 0·92 kW/cm².

The behavior of the reaction flame temperature and the extent of the laser light absorption by SiH₄---C₂H₄ was different from that of SiH₂Cl₂---C₂H₄, although an abrupt temperature increase was observed in both cases. In the case of SiH₄---C₂H₄ an abrupt increase in the laser light absorption was not observed, whilst it was observed in the case of SiH₂Cl₂---C₂H₄. This difference resulted from the difference in liability to form solid carbon particles.     

Synthesis of C2H4 by partial oxidation of CH4 over LiCl/NiO

Alkali halide added transition metal oxides produced ethylene selectively in oxidative coupling of methane. The role of alkali halides has been investigated for LiCl-added NiO (LiCl/NiO). In the absence of LiCl the reaction over NiO produced only carbon oxides (CO₂ + CO). However, addition of LiCl drastically improved the yield of C₂ compounds (C₂H₆ + C₂H₄). One of the roles of LiCl is to inhibit the catalytic activity of the host NiO for deep oxidation of CH₄. The reaction catalyzed by the LiCl/NiO proceeds stepwise from CH₄ to C₂H₄ through C₂H₆ (2CH₄ → C₂H₆ → C₂H₄). The study on the oxidation of C₂H₆ over the LiCl/NiO showed that the oxidative dehydrogenation of C₂H₆ to C₂H₄ occurs very selectively, which is the main reason why partial oxidation of CH₄ over LiCl/NiO gives C₂H₄ quite selectively. The other role of LiCl is to prevent the host oxide (NiO) from being reduced by CH₄. The catalyst model under working conditions was suggested to be the NiO covered with molten LiCl. XPS studies suggested that the catalytically active species on the LiCl/NiO is a surface compound oxide which has higher valent nickel cations (Ni^(2+δ)+ or Ni³⁺). The catalyst was deactivated at the temperatures>973 K due to vaporization of LiCl and consumption of chlorine during reaction. The kinetic and CH₄---CD₄ exchange studies suggested that the rate-determining step of the reaction is the abstraction of H from the vibrationally excited methane by the molecular oxygen adsorbed on the surface compound oxide.     

Deposition of diamond from plasma jets with chlorobenzenes as carbon source

The diamond deposition on a molybdenum substrate was examined in an Ar---H₂ DC plasma jet adding C₆H₅Cl, C₆H₄Cl₂ and C₆H₃Cl₃ as the carbon sources, compared with adding C₆H₆ to to examine the effect of chlorine species on diamond deposition. Well-faceted high-quality diamond was formed from the Ar---C₆H₄Cl₂---H₂ plasma jet. A small amount of graphite and/or amorphous carbon were identified on the surface of the deposits from other plasma jets. Hydrogen abstraction of surface-adsorbed chlorine, chlorine abstraction of surface-adsorbed hydrogen and/or dehydrochlorination play a dominant role in providing higher diamond deposition rates and the removal of graphite and/or amorphous carbon. Excess amounts of chlorine, however, seem to foster the deposition of non-diamond carbon phase.     

Influence of BaO on Pd/Al2O3-based catalysts in C2H4 and CO oxidation as well as in NO reduction

In this study, Pd/Al₂O₃ and Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃ metallic monoliths were used to investigate the effect of BaO in C₂H₄ and CO oxidation as well as in NO reduction. A FT-IR gas analyser was used to study the activity of the catalysts. Several activity experiments carried out with dissimilar feedstreams revealed that BaO enhances CO and C₂H₄ oxidation as well as NO reduction reactions in rich conditions. This effect is due to BaO, which causes a decrease in the ethene poisoning of palladium. In lean conditions BaO is present in the form of Ba(OH)₂ which reacts with oxidised NO releasing water. Therefore, NO was stored during the lean reaction.     

The mechanism of SO2 effect on NO reduction with propene over In2O3/Al2O3 catalyst

An In₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows high activity for the selective catalytic reduction of NO with propene in the presence of oxygen. The presence of SO₂ in feed gas suppressed the catalytic activity dramatically at high temperatures; however it was enhanced in the low temperature range of 473–573 K. In TPD and FT-IR studies, the formation of sulfate species on the surface of the catalyst caused an inhibition of NO_X adsorption sites, and the absorbance ability of NO was suppressed by the presence of SO₂, and the amount of ad-NO₃⁻ species decreased obviously. This leads to a decrease of catalytic activity at higher temperatures. However, addition of SO₂ enhanced the formation of carboxylate and formate species, which can explain the promotional effect of SO₂ at low temperature, because active C₃H₆ (partially oxidized C₃H₆) is crucial at low temperature.     

Catalytic reduction of SO2 over supported transition-metal oxide catalysts with C2H4 as a reducing agent

This work investigates performances of supported transition-metal oxide catalysts for the catalytic reduction of SO₂ with C₂H₄ as a reducing agent. Experimental results indicate that the active species, the support, the feed ratio of C₂H₄/SO₂, and pretreatment are all important factors affecting catalyst activity. Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ was found to be the most active catalyst among six γ-Al₂O₃-supported metal oxide catalysts tested. With Fe₂O₃ as the active species, of the supports tested, CeO₂ is the most suitable one. Using this Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ catalyst, we found that the optimal Fe content is 10 wt.%, the optimal feed ratio of C₂H₄/SO₂ is 1:1, and the catalyst presulfidized by H₂+H₂S exhibits a higher performance than those pretreated with H₂ or He. Although the feed concentrations of C₂H₄:SO₂ being 3000:3000 ppm provide a higher conversion of SO₂, the sulfur yield decreases drastically at temperatures above 300 °C. With higher feed concentrations, maximum yield appears at higher temperatures. The C₂H₄ temperature-programmed desorption (C₂H₄-TPD) and SO₂-TPD desorption patterns illustrate that Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ can adsorb and desorb C₂H₄ and SO₂ more easily than can Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃. Moreover, the SO₂-TPD patterns further show that Fe₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ is more seriously inhibited by SO₂. These findings may properly explain why Fe₂O₃/CeO₂ has a higher activity for the reduction of SO₂.     

Enhanced activity of metal oxide-doped Ga2O3–Al2O3 for NO reduction by propene

Effect of additives, In₂O₃, SnO₂, CoO, CuO and Ag, on the catalytic performance of Ga₂O₃–Al₂O₃ prepared by sol–gel method for the selective reduction of NO with propene in the presence of oxygen was studied. As for the reaction in the absence of H₂O, CoO, CuO and Ag showed good additive effect. When H₂O was added to the reaction gas, the activity of CoO-, CuO- and Ag-doped Ga₂O₃–Al₂O₃ was depressed considerably, while an intensifying effect of H₂O was observed for In₂O₃- and SnO₂-doped Ga₂O₃–Al₂O₃. Of several metal oxide additives, In₂O₃-doped Ga₂O₃–Al₂O₃ showed the highest activity for NO reduction by propene in the presence of H₂O. Kinetic studies on NO reduction over In₂O₃–Ga₂O₃–Al₂O₃ revealed that the rate-determining step in the absence of H₂O is the reaction of NO₂ formed on Ga₂O₃–Al₂O₃ with C₃H₆-derived species, whereas that in the presence of H₂O is the formation of C₃H₆-derived species. We presumed the reason for the promotional effect of H₂O as follows: the rate for the formation of C₃H₆-derived species in the presence of H₂O is sufficiently fast compared with that for the reaction of NO₂ with C₃H₆-derived species in the absence of H₂O. Although the retarding effect of SO₂ on the activity was observed for all of the catalysts, SnO₂–Ga₂O₃–Al₂O₃ showed still relatively high activity in the lower temperature region.     

Catalytic oxidation of HCN over a 0.5% Pt/Al2O3 catalyst

The adsorption of HCN on, its catalytic oxidation with 6% O₂ over 0.5% Pt/Al₂O₃, and the subsequent oxidation of strongly bound chemisorbed species upon heating were investigated. The observed N-containing products were N₂O, NO and NO₂, and some residual adsorbed N-containing species were oxidized to NO and NO₂ during subsequent temperature programmed oxidation. Because N-atom balance could not be obtained after accounting for the quantities of each of these product species, we propose that N₂ and was formed. Both the HCN conversion and the selectivity towards different N-containing products depend strongly on the reaction temperature and the composition of the reactant gas mixture. In particular, total HCN conversion reaches 95% above 250 °C. Furthermore, the temperature of maximum HCN conversion to N₂O is located between 200 and 250 °C, while raising the reaction temperature increases the proportion of NO_x in the products. The co-feeding of H₂O and C₃H₆ had little, if any effect on the total HCN conversion, but C₃H₆ addition did increase the conversion to NO and decrease the conversion to NO₂, perhaps due to the competing presence of adsorbed fragments of reductive C₃H₆. Evidence is also presented that introduction of NO and NO₂ into the reactant gas mixture resulted in additional reaction pathways between these NO_x species and HCN that provide for lean-NO_x reduction coincident with HCN oxidation.     

Effect of hydrogen on reaction intermediates in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx by C3H6

Selective catalytic reduction of NO_x by C₃H₆ in the presence of H₂ over Ag/Al₂O₃ was investigated using in situ DRIFTS and GC–MS measurements. The addition of H₂ promoted the partial oxidation of C₃H₆ to enolic species, the formation of –NCO and the reactions of enolic species and –NCO with NO_x on Ag/Al₂O₃ surface at low temperatures. Based on the results, we proposed reaction mechanism to explain the promotional effect of H₂ on the SCR of NO_x by C₃H₆ over Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

On the promotional effect of Pd on the propene-assisted decomposition of NO on chlorinated Ce0.68Zr0.32O2

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO_x assisted by propene is investigated on Pd/Ce_0.68Zr_0.32O₂ catalysts (Pd/CZ), and is compared, under identical experimental conditions, with that found on a Pd/SiO₂ reference catalyst. Physico-chemical characterisation of the studied catalysts along with their catalytic properties indicate that Pd is not fully reduced to metallic Pd for the Pd/CZ catalysts. This study shows that the incorporation of Pd to CZ greatly promotes the reduction of NO in the presence of C₃H₆. These catalysts display very stable deNO_x activity even in the presence of 1.7% water, the addition of which induces a reversible deactivation of about 10%. The much higher N₂ selectivity obtained on Pd/CZ suggests that the lean deNO_x mechanism occurring on these catalysts is different from that occurring on Pd⁰/SiO₂. A detailed mechanism is proposed for which CZ achieves both NO oxidation to NO₂ and NO decomposition to N₂, whereas PdO_x activates C₃H₆ via ad-NO₂ species, intermediately producing R-NO_x compounds that further decompose to NO and C_xH_yO_z. The role of the latter oxygenates is to reduce CZ to provide the catalytic sites responsible for NO decomposition. The proposed C₃H₆-assisted NO decomposition mechanism stresses the key role of NO₂, R-NO_x and C_xH_yO_z as intermediates of the SCR of NO_x by hydrocarbons.     

A comparative study of Ag/Al2O3 and Cu/Al2O3 catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of NO by C3H6

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by C₃H₆ in excess oxygen was evaluated and compared over Ag/Al₂O₃ and Cu/Al₂O₃ catalysts. Ag/Al₂O₃ showed a high activity for NO reduction. However, Cu/Al₂O₃ showed a high activity for C₃H₆ oxidation. The partial oxidation of C₃H₆ gave surface enolic species and acetate species on the Ag/Al₂O₃, but only an acetate species was clearly observed on the Cu/Al₂O₃. The enolic species is a more active intermediate towards NO + O₂ to yield—NCO species than the acetate species on the Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst. The Ag and Cu metal loadings and phase changes on Al₂O₃ support can affect the activity and selectivity of Ag/Al₂O₃ and Cu/Al₂O₃ catalysts, but the formation of enolic species is the main reason why the activity of the Ag/Al₂O₃ catalyst for NO reduction is higher than that of the Cu/Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

C2H2 oxidation by plasma/TiO2 combination: Influence of the porosity, and photocatalytic mechanisms under plasma exposure

Plasma/catalyst combination is an active solution to reach high conversion rates at low energetic cost. TiO₂ is one of the catalysts frequently used in dielectric barrier discharges. Plasma/TiO₂ synergy was already exhibited but the mechanisms still have to be understood. This work distinguishes three main effects involved in the synergy: (a) effect of catalyst on the injected power, (b) the effect of porosity on C₂H₂ oxidation, and (c) the photocatalytic degradation of C₂H₂ on TiO₂ under plasma exposure. Different glass fibres-based catalytic materials coated with SiO₂ and/or TiO₂ nano-particles are used to separate these three contributions regarding to C₂H₂ conversion. It is reported that at constant voltage the injected power is mainly increased by the presence of glass fibres. C₂H₂ oxidation is mainly enhanced by the macroporosity of glass fibres and in a minor way by the nano-particles. The production of O atoms close to the surface is probably responsible for the higher C₂H₂ removal efficiency with porous material. The photocatalytic activity of TiO₂ is negligible in the plasma except if additional UV lamps are used to activate TiO₂. With external UV, photocatalytic activity is more efficient in the plasma phase than in a neutral gas phase. This plasma/photocatalysis synergy is due to the use of O atoms in photocatalytic mechanisms.     

The reduction phase in NOx storage catalysis: Effect of type of precious metal and reducing agent

The effect of different reducing agents (H₂, CO, C₃H₆ and C₃H₈) on the reduction of stored NO_x over PM/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalysts (PM = Pt, Pd or Rh) at 350, 250 and 150 °C was studied by the use of both NO₂-TPD and transient reactor experiments. With the aim of comparing the different reducing agents and precious metals, constant molar reduction capacity was used during the reduction period for samples with the same molar amount of precious metal. The results reveal that H₂ and CO have a relatively high NO_x reduction efficiency compared to C₃H₆ and especially C₃H₈ that does not show any NO_x reduction ability except at 350 °C over Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃. The type of precious metals affects the NO_x storage-reduction properties, where the Pd/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows both a high storage and a high reduction ability. The Rh/BaO/Al₂O₃ catalyst shows a high reduction ability but a relatively low NO_x storage capacity.     

Selective formation of ethylene from CO2 by catalytic electrolysis at a three-phase interface

A new electrolysis system has been developed for the selective conversion of CO₂ to ethylene in which the electrochemical reduction takes place at the three-phase (gas/liquid/solid) interface on a Cu-mesh electrode mediated with copper(I) halide in an aqueous solution of potassium halide. The conversion percentage of CO₂ (initial volume: 577 cm³) reaches about 90% by the electrolysis with the electric charge of 8.9 kC, and the selectivity for C₂H₄ formation is about 75%. The selective conversion of CO₂ to C₂H₄ is attributed to the immobilized copper(I) halide which operates as a heterogeneous catalyst by offering adsorption sites for reduction intermediates such as CO and carbene.     

Catalyst deactivation in the gas phase destruction of nitrogen-containing organic compounds using TiO2/UV–VIS

Possible application of the TiO₂/UV–VIS photocatalytic process in the destruction of nitrogen-containing malodorous compounds was evaluated. Pyridine (C₅H₅N), propylamine (C₃H₇NH₂) and diethylamine (C₄H₁₀NH) were photodegraded in the presence and in the absence of oxygen. Degradation of nitrogen-containing organic compounds was confirmed by mass balance taking into consideration NH₄⁺ and NO₃⁻ ions trapped at the TiO₂ surface. Photocatalytic deactivation was observed in all cases. On-line mass spectrometry was used to identify byproducts in the gas phase formed during the degradation process. GC–MS analysis of the dichloromethane-extract of aqueous species leached from the surface of deactivated catalyst, as well as pre-concentration in a Tenax column were used to identify intermediates in the gas phase. These byproducts are considered to be the major ones responsible for deactivation of TiO₂.     

The catalytic transformation of chlorofluorocarbons in hydrogen on metal-based catalysts supported on inorganic fluorides

The use of metal halides as carriers for supported metal catalysts allows to obtain stable and selective materials for the hydrodechlorination of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) to hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). The most used catalyst is Pd/AlF₃, but unexpected selectivities have been obtained with Pd on “ZrF₄” oxyfluoride materials or KMgF₃ perovskite-like structure. From a survey of the kinetics, mechanism and surface complexes occurring in the transformation of CFC on Pd, explanations of the beneficial use of metal fluorides as carriers are provided. It is proposed that the good hydrodechlorination selectivity observed on Pd/fluoride comes from an electronic modification of Pd by substoichiometric fluoride species, e.g. AlF_x (x<3), in decoration onto the metal particles. The electron withdrawing effect of these species decreases the disponibility of Pd d electrons and favors the desorption of pallado-fluorocarbenes, e.g. =CF₂, CF₃–CF=, etc., to yield HFC compounds. It is also demonstrated that the dilution of the Pd surface by the decorating AlF_x species decreases the probability of occurrence of surface complexes exchanging multiple bonds with Pd, e.g. CF₃–C=, and leading to deeply hydrogenated compounds. Several methods, alloying, coprecipitation, etc. allow to prepare Pd/fluoride with enhanced interaction between Pd and these substoichiometric species.     

Support-induced promotional effects on the activity of automotive exhaust catalysts 1. The case of oxidation of light hydrocarbons (C2H4)

The kinetics of oxidation of a light hydrocarbon (C₂H₄) were studied on catalysts comprising of combinations of one of three metals, Pt, Pd or Rh supported on five different supports, that is, SiO₂, γ-Al₂O₃, ZrO₂ (8% Y₂O₃), TiO₂ or TiO₂ (W⁶⁺). Significant variation of turnover frequency with the carrier was observed, which cannot be explained by structure sensitivity considerations and is attributed to interactions between the metal crystallites and the carrier. The catalytic activity of these metal-support combinations was investigated over a wide range of partial pressures of ethylene and oxygen. In a separate set of experiments, the kinetics of C₂H₄ oxidation were also investigated on polycrystalline Rh films interfaced with ZrO₂ (8 mol% Y₂O₃) solid electrolyte in a galvanic cell of the type: C₂H₄, O₂, Rh/YSZ/Pt, air, during regular open-circuit conditions as well as under Non-Faradic Electrochemical Modification of Catalytic Activity (NEMCA), that is, closed-circuit conditions. Up to 100-fold increase in catalytic activity was observed by supplying O²⁻ ions to the catalyst surface via positive potential application to the catalyst. The observed kinetic behavior upon increasing catalyst potential parallels qualitatively the observed alteration of turnover frequency with variation of the support of the Rh crystallites.     

In situ IR and pulse reaction studies on the active oxygen species over SrF2/Nd2O3 catalyst for oxidative coupling of methane

Pulse reaction method and in situ IR spectroscopy were used to characterize the active oxygen species for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) over SrF₂/Nd₂O₃ catalyst. It was found that OCM activity of the catalyst was very low in the absence of gas phase oxygen, which indicated that lattice oxygen species contributed little to the yield of C₂ hydrocarbons. IR band of superoxide species (O₂⁻) was detected on the O₂-preadsorbed SrF₂/Nd₂O₃. The substitution of ¹⁸O₂ isotope for ¹⁶O₂ caused the IR band of O₂⁻ at 1128 cm⁻¹ to shift to lower wavenumbers (1094 and 1062 cm⁻¹), consistent with the assignment of the spectra to the O₂⁻ species. A good correlation between the rate of disappearance of surface O₂⁻ and the rate of formation of gas phase C₂H₄ was observed upon interaction of CH₄ with O₂-preadsorbed catalyst at 700 °C. The O₂⁻ species was also observed on the catalyst under working condition. These results suggest that O₂⁻ species is the active oxygen species for OCM reaction on SrF₂/Nd₂O₃ catalyst.     

Mechanistic investigation of the hydrodechlorination of 1,1,1,2-tetrafluorodichloroethane on metal fluoride-supported Pt and Pd

The hydrodechlorination of CF₃CCl₂F over Pd and Pt supported on β-AlF₃ and MgF₂ with D₂ gas has been investigated employing temperature programmed isotope exchange (TPIE) under static conditions. The isotope exchange observed between the H-loaded metal catalyst and the D₂ gas phase demonstrates the significantly higher hydrogen uptake capability of Pd-based catalysts. Both Pd and Pt on β-AlF₃, show significantly higher hydrogen/deuterium uptake and isotope exchange activity as compared with the MgF₂ support, probably due to the presence of hexagonal channels in β-AlF₃ and its higher Lewis acidity. The combination of these properties make Pd/β-AlF₃ a superior catalyst for selective hydrodechlorination of CF₃CCl₂F. Based on the results of the hydrodechlorination of CF₃CCl₂F with D₂, a competitive rather than a consecutive mechanism is proposed. The data from H/D-TPIE are best interpreted by the formation of surface carbene species as intermediates.