Effect of calcination temperature and MgO crystallite size on MgO/TiO2 catalyst system for soybean oil transesterification

The effect of calcination temperature and MgO crystallite sizes on the structure and catalytic performance of TiO₂ supported nano-MgO catalyst for the transesterification of soybean oil has been studied. The catalyst has been prepared by deposition–precipitation method, characterised by XRD, TEM, XRF, BET and FTIR and tested in a batch autoclave at 225 °C. The soybean oil conversion after 15 min of the transesterification reaction increased when the calcination temperature was increased from 500 to 600 °C and decreased with further increase in calcination temperature. Some glycerolysis activity was also detected on catalysts calcined at 600 and 700 °C after 45 min of reaction. The soybean oil conversion during the transesterification reaction increased with the decrease in MgO crystallite size for the first 30 min.     

Effect of calcination temperature on the fabrication of transparent lutetium titanate by spark plasma sintering

Transparent lutetium titanate (Lu₂Ti₂O₇) bodies were fabricated by spark plasma sintering using Lu₂O₃ and TiO₂ powders calcined from 700 °C to 1200 °C. No solid-state reaction was identified after calcination at 700 °C, whereas single-phase Lu₂Ti₂O₇ powder was prepared at 1100 and 1200 °C. The calcination at 700 °C promoted densification at the early stages of sintering, whereas residual pores at grain boundaries resulted in Lu₂Ti₂O₇ bodies with low transparency. Low-density and opaque Lu₂Ti₂O₇ bodies formed owing to the coarsening of the powder calcined at 1200 °C. The Lu₂Ti₂O₇ body sintered using the powder calcined at the moderate temperature of 1100 °C had a density of 99.5% with the highest transmittances of 41% and 74% at wavelengths of 550 nm and 2000 nm, respectively.     

Effect of calcination and reaction conditions on the catalytic performance of Co–Ni/Al2O3 catalyst for CO hydrogenation

The Co–Ni/Al₂O₃ catalysts prepared using impregnation procedure, were used for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis. The effect of calcination conditions of the catalyst as well as reactor situation was studied. It was found that the catalyst calcined at 550 °C for 6 h in air atmosphere has shown the best catalytic performance for CO hydrogenation. The best operational conditions were obtained as following: T = 350 °C, P = 1 atm and H₂/CO = 2/1.     

Compositional inhomogeneity and segregation in (K0.5Na0.5)NbO3 ceramics

In this report, the effects of the calcination temperature of (K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃ (KNN) powder on the sintering and piezoelectric properties of KNN ceramics have been investigated. KNN powders are synthesized via the solid-state approach. Scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction characterizations indicate that the incomplete reaction at 700 °C and 750 °C calcination results in the compositional inhomogeneity of the K-rich and Na-rich phases while the orthorhombic single phase is obtained after calcination at 900 °C. During the sintering, the presence of the liquid K-rich phase due to the lower melting point has a significant impact on the densification, the abnormal grain growth and the deteriorated piezoelectric properties. From the standpoint of piezoelectric properties, the optimal calcination temperature obtained for KNN ceramics calcined at this temperature is determined to be 800 °C, with piezoelectric constant d₃₃=128.3 pC/N, planar electromechanical coupling coefficient k_p=32.2%, mechanical quality factor Q_m=88, and dielectric loss tan δ=2.1%.     

Ceramic monolith supported Mn–Ce–M ternary mixed-oxide (M=Cu,Ni or Co) catalyst for VOCs catalytic oxidation

The MO_x (M=Cu, Ni or Co) modified manganese-cerium mixed-oxide catalysts supported on ceramic monolith were prepared by sol-gel method and examined for the catalytic combustion of o-xylene. Results show that the addition of CuO_x could significantly enhance the catalytic properties of the monolithic catalysts, which may be correlated with the Mn-Cu synergistic interaction. The effects of the preparation parameters including the Cu content, the total amount of active phase and the calcination temperature and time, as well as the reaction conditions, i.e., the space velocity and concentration of o-xylene, on the catalytic performance for the combustion of o-xylene were also investigated. It is shown that the MnCeCu_0.4/monolith catalyst with the active phase loading of 11.4 wt% and calcined at 500 °C for 3 h displays the highest catalytic activity. When the concentration of o-xylene is 1000 ppm and the space velocity is 10,000 h⁻¹, the temperature at which 90% o-xylene conversion is reached is 277 °C. It is also seen that the optimum catalyst has a good catalytic stability and exhibits an excellent activity not only at a rather high space velocity but also within a wide range of o-xylene concentration. Furthermore, the optimum catalyst also show the high combustion performance for other hydrocarbons, e.g., n-butanol and styrene.     

Characteristics of samaria-doped ceria nanoparticles prepared by spray pyrolysis

Samaria-doped ceria (SDC) nanoparticles were prepared by spray pyrolysis. The means sizes of the samaria-doped ceria nanoparticles were controlled from 21 to 150 nm by changing the calcination temperatures between 700 and 1200 °C. The pellets formed from the SDC particles calcined at temperatures between 700 and 1000 °C had similar grain sizes between 0.75 and 0.82 μm. However, pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1200 °C had large grain size of 1.22 μm. The pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1000 °C had slightly smaller resistance of grain-boundary than those of the pellets formed from the SDC particles calcined at temperatures between 700 and 900 °C. However, the pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1200 °C had low resistance of grain-boundary. The pellet formed from the SDC particles calcined at a temperature of 1200 °C had conductivity of 44.65 × 10^?3 S cm^?1 at a measuring temperature of 700 °C that more twice than those of the pellets formed from the SDC calcined below 1000 °C.     

Decomposition of nonionic surfactant on a nitrogen-doped photocatalyst under visible-light irradiation

A visible-light-active N-containing TiO₂ photocatalysts were prepared from crude amorphous titanium dioxide by heating amorphous TiO₂ in gaseous NH₃ atmosphere. The calcination temperatures ranged from 200 to 1000 °C, respectively. UV–vis/DR spectra indicated that the N-doped catalysts prepared at temperatures <400 °C absorbed only UV light (E_g = 3.3 eV), whereas samples prepared at temperatures ≥400 °C absorbed both, UV (E_g = 3.10–3.31 eV) and vis (E_g = 2.54–2.66 eV) light. The chemical structure of the modified photocatalysts was investigated using FT-IR/DRS spectroscopy. All the spectra exhibited bands indicating nitrogen presence in the catalysts structure. The photocatalytic activity of the investigated catalysts was determined on a basis of a decomposition rate of nonionic surfactant (polyoxyethylenenonylphenol ether, Rokafenol N9). The most photoactive catalysts were those calcinated at 300, 500 and 600 °C. For the catalysts heated at temperatures of 500 and 600 °C Rokafenol N9 removal was equal to 61 and 60%, whereas TOC removal amounted to 40 and 35%, respectively. In case of the catalyst calcinated at 300 °C surfactant was degraded by 54% and TOC was removed by 35%. The phase composition of the most active photocatalysts was as follows: (a) catalyst calcinated at 300 °C—49.1% of amorphous TiO₂, 47.4% of anatase and 3.5% of rutile; (b) catalyst calcinated at 500 °C—7.1% of amorphous TiO₂, 89.4% of anatase and 3.5% of rutile; (c) catalyst calcinated at 600 °C—94.2% of anatase and 5.8% of rutile.     

Synthesis and characterization of nanometric gadolinia powders by room temperature solid-state displacement reaction and low temperature calcination

Nanometric-sized gadolinia (Gd₂O₃) powders were obtained by applying solid-state displacement reaction at room temperature and low temperature calcination. The XRD analysis revealed that the room temperature product was gadolinium hydroxide, Gd(OH)₃. In order to induce crystallization of Gd₂O₃, the subsequent calcination at 600 ∼ 1200 °C of the room temperature reaction products was studied. Calculation of average crystallite size (D) as well as separation of the effect of crystallite size and strain of nanocrystals was performed on the basic of Williamson-Hall plots. The morphologies of powders calcined at different temperatures were followed by scanning electron microscopy. The pure cubic Gd₂O₃ phase was made at 600 °C which converted to monoclinic Gd₂O₃ phase between 1400° and 1600 °C. High-density (96% of theoretical density) ceramic pellet free of any additives was obtained after pressureless sintering at 1600 °C for 4 h in air, using calcined powder at 600 °C.     

Effect of calcination temperature of mesoporous nickel–alumina catalysts on their catalytic performance in hydrogen production by steam reforming of liquefied natural gas (LNG)

Mesoporous nickel–alumina (Ni–A-NS) catalysts prepared by a non-ionic surfactant-templating method were calcined at various temperatures for use in hydrogen production by steam reforming of liquefied natural gas (LNG). The effect of calcination temperature of nickel–alumina catalysts on their physicochemical properties and catalytic activity for steam reforming of LNG was investigated. Nickel oxide species were finely dispersed on the surface of Ni–A-NS catalysts through the formation of nickel aluminate phase. Reducibility, nickel surface area, and nickel dispersion of Ni–A-NS catalysts decreased with increasing calcination temperature. In the steam reforming of LNG, both LNG conversion and hydrogen composition in dry gas decreased with increasing calcination temperature of Ni–A-NS catalysts. Nickel surface area and reducibility of Ni–A-NS catalysts were well correlated with catalytic performance of the catalysts. Among the catalysts tested, Ni–A-NS700 (nickel–alumina catalyst calcined at 700 °C) with the highest nickel surface area and the highest reducibility exhibited the best catalytic performance.     

Mesoporous CuO/TixZr1 − xO2 catalysts for low-temperature CO oxidation

Mesoporous CuO/Ti_xZr_1 − xO₂ catalysts were prepared by a surfactant-assisted method, and characterized by N₂ adsorption/desorption, TEM, XPS, in-situ FTIR and H₂-TPR. The catalysts exhibited high specific surface area (S_BET = 241 m²/g) and uniform pore size distribution. XPS and in-situ FTIR displayed that Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ species coexisted in the catalysts. The CuO/Ti_xZr_1 − xO₂ catalysts presented obviously higher activity in CO oxidation reaction than the CuO/TiO₂ and CuO/ZrO₂ catalysts. Effect of molar ratios of Ti to Zr and calcination temperature on catalytic activity was investigated. The CuO/Ti_0.6Zr_0.4O₂ catalyst calcined at 400 °C exhibited excellent activity with 100% CO conversion at 140 °C.     

Low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO over MnOx/CNTs catalysts: Effect of thermal treatment condition

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) supported manganese oxide catalysts were prepared through different thermal treatment routes and used for low-temperature selective catalytic reduction of NO with NH₃. The MnO_x/CNTs catalyst prepared by calcined the precursor in air at 300 °C showed lower NO conversions than that treated at 250 °C, while it showed higher NO conversions than the one calcined in nitrogen. BET, TGA, XRD and H₂-TPR results indicated that CNTs may impose effects on the oxidation state and redox ability of the manganese oxide and hence on the catalytic activity during the calcination process at given temperatures.     

Catalytic dehydration of lactic acid to acrylic acid over dibarium pyrophosphate

Barium phosphate catalysts were prepared by a precipitation method. The catalysts were calcined at 500 °C for 6 h in air atmosphere and characterized by SEM for morphological features, by XRD for crystal phases, by N₂ sorption for specific surface area, by TPD–NH₃ for acidity and by TG for thermal stability. The dibarium pyrophosphate catalyst was found to have the best catalytic performance, ascribing to weak acidity on the surface. Under the optimal reaction conditions, 99.7% of the lactic acid conversion and 76.0% of the selectivity to acrylic acid were achieved over the dibarium pyrophosphate catalyst.     

Removal characteristics of nitrogen oxide of high temperature catalytic filters for simultaneous removal of fine particulate and NOx

The CuMnOx catalysts were deep coated into polysulfonamide felts by vacuum suction to simultaneously remove the particulate and nitrogen oxides. This filter consists of a high temperature foam layer as a surface layer, a catalytic pleated felt as a medium layer and glassfiber fabric layer with high temperature phenol resin as a final layer. In this study, the effects of catalyst loading on the pleated felt, operating temperature on nitrogen oxides reduction with NH₃ were mainly investigated. Tests were conducted at operating temperature range from 150 to 250 °C and at face velocity of 1 m/min. Within these ranges, NO removal efficiency was over 90% at the catalyst loading of 350 g/m² and 200 °C.     

Synthesizing carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers over supported-nickel oxide catalysts via catalytic decomposition of methane

Supported-NiO catalysts were tested in the synthesis of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibers by catalytic decomposition of methane at 550 °C and 700 °C. Catalytic activity was characterized by the conversion levels of methane and the amount of carbons accumulated on the catalysts. Selectivity of carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofiber formation were determined using transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The catalytic performance of the supported-NiO catalysts and the types of filamentous carbons produced were discussed based on the X-ray diffraction (XRD) results and the TEM images of the used catalysts. The experimental results show that the catalytic performance of supported-NiO catalysts decreased in the order of NiO/SiO₂ > NiO/HZSM-5 > NiO/CeO₂ > NiO/Al₂O₃ at both reaction temperatures. The structures of the carbons formed by decomposition of methane were dependent on the types of catalyst supports used and the reaction temperatures conducted. It was found that Al₂O₃ was crucial to the dispersion of smaller NiO crystallites, which gave rise to the formation of multi-walled carbon nanotubes at the reaction temperature of 550 °C and a mixture of multi-walled carbon nanotubes and single-walled carbon nanotubes at 700 °C. Other than NiO/Al₂O₃ catalyst, all the tested supported-NiO catalysts formed carbon nanofibers at 550 °C and multi-walled carbon nanotubes at 700 °C except for NiO/HZSM-5 catalyst, which grew carbon nanofibers at both 550 °C and 700 °C.     

Vapor-phase selective hydrogenation of maleic anhydride to succinic anhydride over Ni/TiO2 catalysts

A series of supported Ni/TiO₂ catalysts were prepared by incipient wetness impregnation method under different calcination temperatures, and the as-prepared catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), hydrogen temperature-programmed reduction (H₂-TPR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic properties of these Ni/TiO₂ catalysts were investigated in the vapor phase hydrogenation of maleic anhydride (MA) to succinic anhydride (SA). The results showed that the catalytic activity and the selectivity of the Ni/TiO₂ catalysts were strongly affected by the calcination temperature. The catalyst calcined at 1023 K showed a relatively higher SA selectivity of 96% at high MA conversion (96%) under the tested conditions (493 K and 0.2 MPa). The improvement of SA selectivity could be mainly assigned to the presence of suitable metal–support interaction, which can play a role in catalytic property of active nickel species as electron promoter. Besides, the change of surface properties of TiO₂ support with the increasing calcination temperatures, e.g., the decrease of Lewis acid sites, might also have some positive role in reducing the side-products like γ-butyrolacetone (GBL).     

A novel catalyst of Ni–Mn complex oxides supported on cordierite for catalytic oxidation of toluene at low temperature

The catalytic combustion of toluene over Ni–Mn mixed complex supported on industrial cordierite was investigated. The catalysts were prepared by the wet impregnation method and characterized by using the Brunauer Emmett Teller (BET), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) and X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The catalytic activity toward the complete oxidation of toluene to CO₂ and H₂O strongly depended on the molar ratio of Ni/Mn, loading amount of Ni–Mn oxides, and calcination temperature. All the results above indicated that the Ni–Mn complex oxide catalyst calcined at 400 °C with 0.5 mol ratio of Ni/Mn, 10 wt.% loading amounts, and showed the highest activity as complete oxidation of toluene.     

Combustion synthesis of high-performance Li4Ti5O12 for secondary Li-ion battery

Spinel Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was synthesized by a simple glycine-nitrate auto-combustion by applying aqueous medium and constricting the reactions in the pores of cellulose fibers. The products from the auto-combustion and further calcination at various temperatures were characterized by XRD, SEM, BET surface area and TEM examinations. Pure phase and well-crystallized nano-Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ oxides were obtained at a calcination temperature of 700 °C or higher. The 700 °C calcined one shows the best and high electrochemical performance, which reached a capacity of ～125 mAh/g at 10 C discharge rate with fairly stable cycling performance even at 40 °C. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy tests demonstrated that the surface reaction kinetics of Li₄Ti₅O₁₂ was improved significantly with the increase of its electronic conductivity.     

Influence of calcination temperature on the hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide over hydrotalcite-derived Zn–Ni–Al catalyst

A novel catalyst for low temperature hydrolysis of carbonyl sulfide (COS) was prepared by thermal decomposition of Zn–Ni–Al hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTLCs). As the key factors of catalyst activity, effects of calcination temperature have been studied. The samples were carefully characterized by XRD, FTIR, SEM, CO₂-TPD and N₂ adsorption/desorption. Results showed that HTLCs calcined at 350 °C exhibited excellent activity due to the production of more M–O pairs which are active sites of the hydrolysis of COS. However, calcination at 500 °C led to the destruction of pore structure and reduction of active sites, ultimately led to a lower COS conversion.     

Preparation and catalytic activity in ethanol combustion reaction of cobalt–iron spinel catalysts

Iron–cobalt spinel catalysts were prepared via the coprecipitation method. The effect of different parameters on textural, structural and catalytic properties, in ethanol combustion, was investigated. The CoFe₂O₄ phase was obtained at calcination temperatures as low as 500 °C and the usage of ammonia as precipitating agent, results in the formation of Fe₂O₃ in addition to the spinel phase. The catalyst prepared using nitrate salts, NaOH as precipitation agent and calcined at 600 °C had the best catalytic performance achieving ethanol complete oxidation at 271 °C.     

Influence of calcination temperature on the piezoelectric properties of Ag2O doped 0.94(K0.5Na0.5)NbO3–0.06LiNbO3 ceramics

The effects of calcination temperature on the bulk density, piezoelectric, and ferroelectric properties were investigated for the Ag₂O doped 0.94(K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃–0.06LiNbO₃ ceramics. The calcination temperatures were varied from 750 to 950 °C by 50 °C differences. An tetragonal XRD pattern, consistent with single-phase 0.94(K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃–0.06LiNbO₃ was obtained after calcination at 850 °C for 2 h. And the experimental results showed that Ag₂O doped 0.94(K_0.5Na_0.5)NbO₃–0.06LiNbO₃ ceramics calcined at 850 °C had a remnant polarization P_r=24.5 μC/cm², bulk density=4.32 g/cm³, piezoelectric constant d₃₃=282 pC/N and electromechanical coefficient k_p=37.8%.