Catalytic activity of copper and palladium based catalysts for toluene total oxidation

In this study, catalysts containing 0.5 wt.% of palladium or 5 wt.% of copper were compared towards toluene total oxidation using FAU Zeolite and ZrO₂ supports. A 0.5%Pd/NaFAU and 5%Cu/ZrO₂ were found to be promising catalysts for this reaction. Palladium presented then a better affinity for FAU zeolite and copper oxide had a better affinity for zirconia. The performances of Pd based catalysts were correlated to interaction between the active phase and the support whereas the activity of copper oxide was related to oxygen mobility property of the support leading to copper oxide particles easily reducible. Support modifications, yttrium addition for ZrO₂ and cation exchange for the zeolite FAU, still enhanced the catalytic activity. Therefore, 0.5%Pd/CsFAU and 5%Cu/Zr₉₅Y₅ samples were found to be interesting catalysts for total VOC oxidation.     

Promotional effect of gold added to palladium supported on a new mesoporous TiO2 for total oxidation of volatile organic compounds

Gold and palladium were supported on a mesoporous TiO₂ for total oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Mesoporous high surface area titania support was synthesised using of Ti(OC₂H₅)₂ in the presence of CTMABr surfactant. After removing the surfactant molecules, 0.5 or 1.5 wt% of palladium and 1 wt% of gold were precipitated on the support by, respectively, wet impregnation and deposition–precipitation methods. The activity for toluene and propene total oxidation of the prereduced samples follows the same order: 0.5%Pd-1%Au/TiO₂ > 1.5%Pd/TiO₂ > 0.5%Pd/TiO₂ > 1%Au-0.5%Pd/TiO₂ > 1%Au/TiO₂ > TiO₂. Moreover, a catalytic comparison with samples based on a conventional TiO₂, shows the catalytic advantage of the mesoporous TiO₂ support. The promotional effect of gold added to palladium could be partly explained by small metallic particles (TEM), but meanly by metallic particles made up of Au-rich core with a Pd-rich shell. Moreover, the hydrogen TPR profile of 0.5%Pd-1%Au/TiO₂ shows only the signal attributed to small PdO particles. Gold also implies a protecting effect of the support under reduction atmosphere. Operando diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy was carried on and allowed to follow the VOCs oxidation and the formation of coke molecules, but also a metallic electrodonor effect to the adsorbed molecule which increases in the same order as the activity for oxidation reaction. The presence of coke after test was also shown by DTA–TGA by exothermic signals between 300 and 500 °C and by EPR (g = 2.003).     

The role of carbon deposition on precious metal catalyst activity during dry reforming of biogas

Gold and palladium were supported on a mesoporous TiO₂ for total oxidation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Mesoporous high surface area titania support was synthesised using of Ti(OC₂H₅)₂ in the presence of CTMABr surfactant. After removing the surfactant molecules, 0.5 or 1.5 wt% of palladium and 1 wt% of gold were precipitated on the support by, respectively, wet impregnation and deposition–precipitation methods. The activity for toluene and propene total oxidation of the prereduced samples follows the same order: 0.5%Pd-1%Au/TiO₂ > 1.5%Pd/TiO₂ > 0.5%Pd/TiO₂ > 1%Au-0.5%Pd/TiO₂ > 1%Au/TiO₂ > TiO₂. Moreover, a catalytic comparison with samples based on a conventional TiO₂, shows the catalytic advantage of the mesoporous TiO₂ support. The promotional effect of gold added to palladium could be partly explained by small metallic particles (TEM), but meanly by metallic particles made up of Au-rich core with a Pd-rich shell. Moreover, the hydrogen TPR profile of 0.5%Pd-1%Au/TiO₂ shows only the signal attributed to small PdO particles. Gold also implies a protecting effect of the support under reduction atmosphere. Operando diffuse reflectance infrared fourier transform (DRIFT) spectroscopy was carried on and allowed to follow the VOCs oxidation and the formation of coke molecules, but also a metallic electrodonor effect to the adsorbed molecule which increases in the same order as the activity for oxidation reaction. The presence of coke after test was also shown by DTA–TGA by exothermic signals between 300 and 500 °C and by EPR (g = 2.003).     

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) removal over dual functional adsorbent/catalyst system

This study is focused on the elimination of tetrachloroethylene (PCE) and methylethylketone (MEK) by adsorption/catalytic oxidation in humid conditions using zeolites as adsorbent and catalyst. Adsorption experiments have led to the conclusion that HFAU(17) zeolite was a very efficient adsorbent for the removal of PCE and MEK. Furthermore, complete transformation of PCE into CO₂ and HCl was achieved at 500 °C over 1.2%Pt/HFAU(5). MEK was completely converted into CO₂ at 220 °C over 1%Pt/NaX, without formation of CO. Formation of coke occurs during MEK oxidation reaction, especially over acid catalyst, and at low reaction temperature. Furthermore, it was pointed out that water has a negative effect on MEK conversion. Lastly, adsorption/catalytic oxidation of PCE and MEK was performed over a dual functional HFAU(17)-Pt/FAU adsorbent/catalyst system. The adsorption step was performed at 30 °C with an HFAU(17) adsorbent, and the oxidation step was carried out at 450 °C for PCE with 1.2%PtHFAU(5), and at 250 °C for MEK transformation with 1%PtNaX. It appeared that the adsorbent-catalyst couple remains efficient for MEK transformation during successive adsorption/oxidation cycles.     

Preparation, Characterization and Catalytic Activity of Palladium Nanoparticles Encapsulated in SBA-15

A simple adsorption method was studied for the preparation of SBA-15-encapsulated palladium nanoparticles. This method employed the SBA-15 with organic template removed by ethanol extraction for the adsorption of cationic Pd precursors in alkaline solution followed by calcination and H₂ reduction. The pH of the solution was found to be a critical factor in determining the palladium content and the ordered mesoporous structure. Our characterizations revealed that the Pd nanoparticles prepared by this method were located inside the mesoporous channels and were quite uniform in size (mostly 3–4 nm). The SBA-15-encapsulated uniform Pd nanoparticles were efficient catalysts for solvent-free aerobic oxidation of alcohols.     

Deep oxidation of VOC mixtures with platinum supported on Al2O3/Al monoliths

Pt impregnated metallic monoliths prepared from anodised aluminium foils were tested to study their catalytic activity in complete oxidation of volatile organic compound (VOC) mixtures. The VOCs oxidised were 2-propanol, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone (MEK), acetone and their mixtures. Complete oxidation was obtained in all cases except for the case of 2-propanol, where acetone was found as an oxidation intermediate. Even if the adsorption of the VOC on the Al₂O₃ is governed by its polarity, the reactivity is mainly affected by the competition of the oxygen atoms chemisorbed on the Pt particles.     

Kinetics of Pd/alumina catalysed 1,2-dichloroethane gas-phase oxidation

The complete catalytic oxidation of 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) over palladium supported on alumina was evaluated. The effect of temperature, inlet DCE concentration, and the space time on the reaction rate and selectivity was examined with the aim of better understanding of the reaction pathway. DCE oxidation reactions were carried out in a conventional fixed-bed reactor at atmospheric pressure under conditions of lean DCE concentration in air. The outlet composition was analysed by a gas chromatograph equipped with an electron capture detector (ECD) and a thermal conductivity detector (TCD). The reaction scheme resulted in a first dehydrochlorination step of DCE, leading to the formation of vinyl chloride (VC), followed by direct oxidation of VC to CO and CO₂. CO is finally oxidized to CO₂. The developed kinetic model provided an accurate correlation of the experimental data, determined by a non-linear least-squares regression.     

A multi-phase model for VOC emission from single-layer dry building materials

A multi-phase model for the emission of VOC from dry building materials is developed. Dry building materials are viewed as porous media. A general adsorption isotherm is used to construct the concentration equation in the porous media. The boundary conditions at the material-air interface are presented for both CFD model and one compartment model. With the use of Henry’s law for the adsorption isotherm, an analytical solution is obtained and further is validated with the comparison of the experiment performed by Yang et al. [1], yielding a relatively good agreement. The effects of the model parameters on the emission are investigated in detail. Increasing the effective diffusion coefficient and the partition coefficient tends to promote the emission and increase the peak value of the concentration in the air. The effect of the porosity depends on the degree of the dependence of the effective diffusion coefficient on the porosity. When a weak dependence exists, the increase of the porosity tends to suppress the emission and decrease the peak value of the concentration in the air. However, when a strong dependence exists, the increase of the porosity tends to promote the emission and increase the peak value of the concentration in the air.     

Toluene combustion over palladium supported on various metal oxide supports

Metal–support interaction in the catalytic combustion of toluene was studied using metal oxides with different acid–base properties as supports for Pd. The catalytic performance was correlated with XPS data and the reaction order for oxygen. These studies revealed that the affinity for oxygen of Pd surface changed according to the acid–base character of metal oxide over MgO, Al₂O₃, SiO₂, SnO₂, Nb₂O₅, and WO₃. However, ZrO₂ exhibited exceptional character in that metal Pd was unusually stabilized, which was derived from the weak interaction between Pd and support surface. The reason for high toluene combustion activity of Pd/ZrO₂ was ascribed to the stabilization of metal Pd on ZrO₂.     

P-950哌啶树脂吸附钯的动力学研究

研究了P－950哌啶树脂吸附钯的动力学．结果表明，该树脂从氯化物溶液中吸附钯的动力学符合Boyd液膜扩散方程，吸附速率随盐酸浓度的增加而下降；当温度升高时吸附钯的分配比降低．测得的液膜扩散系数K＝1．34×10-2／s，吸附表现热焓△H＝-13.77kJ／mol，表明该树脂吸咐钯是放热反应.     

The activity and mechanism of uranium oxide catalysts for the oxidative destruction of volatile organic compounds

Uranium oxide based catalysts have been investigated for the oxidative destruction of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) to carbon oxides and water. The catalysts have been tested for the destruction of a range of organic compounds at space velocities up to 70 000 h⁻¹. Destruction efficiencies greater than 99% can be achieved over the appropriate uranium based catalyst in the temperature range 300–450°C. Volatile organic compounds investigated include benzene, butylacetate, cyclohexanone, toluene, methanol, acetylene, butane, chlorobutane and chlorobenzene. The catalysts are thermally stable, destroy low concentrations and mixtures of VOCs and lifetime studies indicate that deactivation during oxidation of chlorinated VOCs did not occur. A temporal analysis of products (TAPs) reactor is used to investigate the mechanism of oxidation of VOCs by uranium oxide catalysts. Studies indicated that VOCs were oxidised directly to carbon oxides on the catalyst surface. A combination of TAP pulse experiments with oxygen present and absent in the gas phase has indicated that the lattice oxygen from the catalyst is responsible for the total oxidation activity. This has been confirmed by studies using isotopically labelled oxygen which indicates that the catalyst operates by a redox mechanism.     

Titania supported Co-Mn-Al oxide catalysts in total oxidation of ethanol

Catalytic activity of the Co-Mn-Al mixed oxide catalysts (Co:Mn:Al molar ratio of 4:1:1) supported over titania was examined in total oxidation of ethanol. The prepared catalysts were characterized by chemical analysis (AAS), surface area measurements, and temperature programmed techniques (TPR, TPD). In ethanol oxidation, the catalysts activity gradually increased with increasing active phase content. Low concentration of Co-Mn-Al oxides in the catalyst negatively affected formation of reaction byproducts: carbon monoxide production steeply increased when Co + Mn metals concentration were lower than 5 wt.%. On the other hand, formation of the second main reaction intermediate, acetaldehyde was limited, when acidity of the catalyst was not high, i.e. concentration of Co-Mn metals over titania was low.     

Separation of Campesterol and β‐Sitosterol from a Sterol Mixture

Abstract

By solvent crystallization using diethyl ether as the solvent on sterol mixture, brassicasterol and stigmasterol that contains a side chain with double bond were separated from campesterol and β‐sitosterol with a saturated side chain. The total campesterol and β‐sitosterol content in the liquid phase was more than 97% with a recovery of 12%. Multistage crystallization using acetone as the solvent could increase the recovery of campesterol and β‐sitosterol to 30%. By employing zeolite selective adsorption on the campesterol and β‐sitosterol fraction, β‐sitosterol can be recovered in the liquid phase with a purity of 95.2% and a recovery of 3% (overall recovery 1%). After desorbing in ethanol, campesterol adsorbed on the zeolite can be recovered with a purity of 95.4% and a recovery of 3.7% (overall recovery 1.6%).     

Oscillatory behaviour during the oxidation of methane over palladium metal catalysts

Oscillatory reactions over palladium foil and wire catalysts during the oxidation of methane have been investigated over a wide range of reaction temperatures and argon/methane/oxygen feed gas compositions. Characterisation of the catalyst has also been carried out using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques, which revealed the presence of a porous surface. This suggested that the metal surface has undergone a change since the reaction commenced, and using X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) techniques the palladium phase was shown to be the dominant phase present. Hysteresis phenomena were observed in the activity of the reaction as the temperature was cycled up and down, showing that the metal surface was continually changing throughout the reaction. The activation energies of the reaction during the high reactivity mode, PdO, and low reactivity mode, Pd, were also calculated. Oscillation rates were observed to depend on the dominant surface. Oscillations were frequent when the high reactivity mode was dominant while the activation energy of this mode was found to be low. When the low reactivity mode was dominant, the oscillations were slower and the activation energy was three times larger. The results obtained imply that the behaviour of the palladium surface, switching back and forth from the reduced state to the oxidised state, is responsible for the oscillatory behaviour seen in this system.