Supercritical phase process for direct synthesis of middle iso-paraffins from modified Fischer–Tropsch reaction

A new concept on the direct synthesis of middle iso-paraffins through the modified supercritical Fischer–Tropsch (FT) reaction was proposed and experimentally demonstrated with the combination of Co/SiO₂ and palladium-supported β zeolite (Pd/β) catalysts both in one-stage and two-stage fixed-bed reaction systems. Depending on the reaction conditions, the selectivity of C₄⁺ iso-paraffins mostly in gasoline range was 60–80% due to hydrocracking and hydro-isomerization function of Pd/β. Irrespective of reaction conditions, the hydrocarbons produced from FT reaction were preferentially hydro-converted over Pd/β catalyst while the supercritical solvent of n-hexane could only be slightly hydro-converted under severe conditions. The production of iso-paraffin in two-stage process was tested for 100 h without observable deactivation by feeding additional hydrogen in lower reactor, which is ascribed to the inhibition of coke deposition over Pd/β as revealed from TG analysis of the used catalysts.     

Conversion of naphthenes to a high value steamcracker feedstock using H-ZSM-5 based catalysts in the second step of the ARINO-process

Future regulations for the limitation of sulfur and aromatics in fuels driven by the European Auto Oil Program (AOP II) stimulate the need for an alternative utilization of the resulting surplus of pyrolysis gasoline (pygas). The conversion of heavy pyrolysis gasoline into valuable steam cracker feedstock with a maximum yield of C₂–C₄ n-alkanes is achieved via the ARINO^® two-step process, jointly developed by Linde, VEBA Oil and Süd-Chemie. The first step involves a hydrogenation of aromatics to naphthenes followed by the subsequent ring opening and cracking in the second step.

Süd-Chemie developed a new commercial cracking catalyst for the second step of the ARINO^® process with the aim to maximize the yield of C₂–C₄ n-alkanes at low formation of methane and aromatics. The ring opening and cracking reaction of naphthenes was studied in a bench scale tubular reactor over extruded H-ZSM-5 based zeolite catalysts.

In a series of screening tests using a commercial, hydrogenated and desulphurized heavy pyrolysis gasoline, the influence of the preparation parameters such as zeolite acidity, palladium content as well as the type of binder were investigated. Furthermore, the influence of the process conditions space velocity and temperature was studied.

High yields of C₂–C₄ n-alkanes at low formation of undesired methane and aromatics were achieved over an alumina bound zeolite with medium Brønsted acidity loaded with palladium.

The reduction of the space velocity resulted in an increase in the C₂–C₄ n-alkane yield and lower formation of aromatics, but a simultaneous increase in the methane make. Raising the temperature from 280 to 370 °C significantly increased the catalyst activity.     

High performance Pd/beta catalyst for the production of gasoline-range iso-paraffins via a modified Fischer–Tropsch reaction

The direct synthesis of gasoline-range iso-paraffins from synthesis gas (CO + H₂, syngas) via a modified Fischer–Tropsch (FT) reaction was intensively studied under a wide range of reaction conditions by the combination of Co/SiO₂ and Pd/beta in a consecutive dual reactor system. Results indicate that high selectivity of gasoline-range iso-paraffins (iso-paraffins relative to C₄+ hydrocarbons was about 80%) could be achieved with the presence of Pd/beta catalyst in the lower reactor. Moreover, the performance of the Pd/beta catalyst for the titled reaction and the product composition can be significantly regulated by independently changing the reaction conditions such as catalyst amount, reaction temperature, and hydrogen partial pressure in the lower reactor. It was found that the Pd/beta catalyst used in this work was very active and stable even at a reaction temperature as low as 503 K. With the increase of hydrogen partial pressure in the lower reactor, the long-term stability of the Pd/beta catalyst was significantly enhanced.     

Deactivated iron catalyst in the fischer-tropsch synthesis

The selectivity for higher hydrocarbons (C₁₁–C₁₇) has been studied in the Fischer-Tropsch synthesis using fresh and used fused iron catalysts under different reaction conditions. On increasing the temperature higher hydrocarbon products were formed in the C₁₁–C₁₇ range. The deactivated fused iron catalyst is less active but selective to heavier hydrocarbon chain molecules. The product distribution is shifted towards heavier hydrocarbons due to the effects of the pore volume, presence of potassium and site densities at the surface.     

Novel utilization of MCM-22 molecular sieves as supports of cobalt catalysts in the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Cobalt catalysts (2–10 wt% Co) supported on silica-rich MCM-22 zeolites have been prepared by impregnation with aqueous Co(NO₃)₂ solutions. The catalysts are characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption, solid state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The catalytic properties for the Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS) at 280 °C, 12.5 bar and H₂/CO = 2 are evaluated. The catalysts supported on MCM-22 exhibit the highest selectivity to long-chain (C₅₊) hydrocarbons when MCM-22 supports are synthesized with the appropriate Si/Al ratio.     

Novel utilization of mesoporous molecular sieves as supports of cobalt catalysts in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

Mesoporous molecular sieves (MCM-41 and SBA-15) with different pore diameters have been studied as supports of high loading of Co catalysts, and the performances in FT synthesis have been examined with a fixed bed stainless steel reactor at 2.0 MPa for the purpose of efficient production of C₁₀–C₂₀ fraction as the main component of diesel fuel. The method of exchanging template ions in uncalcined MCM-41 with Co²⁺ ions is effective for holding 10–20% Co within the mesopores while keeping the structure regularity of MCM-41 to some extent, compared with the conventional impregnation method using calcined MCM-41. At 523 K, CO conversion and selectivity to C₁₀–C₂₀ hydrocarbons are both higher at larger loading of 20% Co for the exchanged catalysts with pore diameters of 2.7–2.9 nm. When four kinds of 20% Co/SBA-15 with the diameters of 3.5–13 nm, prepared by the impregnation method using an ethanol solution of Co acetate, are used in FT synthesis at 523 K, the catalyst with the diameter of 8.3 nm shows the largest CO conversion, which is higher than those over MCM-41 supported Co catalysts. At a lower temperature of 503 K, however, the acetate-derived Co is almost inactive. In contrast, the use of Co nitrate alone or an equimolar mixture of the acetate and nitrate as Co precursor drastically enhances the reaction rate and consequently provides high space–time yield (260–270 g C/kg_cat h) of C₁₀–C₂₀ hydrocarbons. The X-ray diffraction and temperature-programmed reduction measurements show that the dependency of the catalytic performance of 20% Co/SBA-15 on its precursor originates probably from the differences in not only the reducibility of the calcined catalyst but also the dispersion of metallic Co. Catalyst characterization after FT synthesis strongly suggests the high stability of the most effective Co/SBA-15 in the dispersion and reducibility of the oxide species and in the mesoporous structure.     

Development of sulfur tolerant catalysts for the synthesis of high quality transportation fuels

In this paper, results concerning the development of sulfur tolerant catalysts for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis (FTS), C₂₊ alcohol synthesis, methanol and/or DME synthesis are presented. In the FTS reaction on Fe using H₂-rich syngas such as the biomass-derived syngas, the composition of catalyst pretreatment gas and the addition of MnO on Fe had strong impacts on its sulfur resistance as well as activity. Especially the Fe/MnO catalyst pretreated with CO showed a much lower deactivation rate and a higher FTS activity than an Fe/Cu/K catalyst in the presence of H₂S. For C₂₊ alcohol synthesis a novel preparation method was developed for a highly active MoS₂-based catalyst that is well known as the sulfur tolerant catalyst. Besides some metal sulfides were found to show higher CO hydrogenation activities than MoS₂. In particular, both Rh and Pd sulfides were active and selective for the methanol synthesis. Modified Pd sulfide catalyst, i.e. sulfided Ca/Pd/SiO₂, showed an activity that was about 60% of that of a Cu/ZnO/Al₂O₃ catalyst in the absence of H₂S. This catalyst preserved 35% of the initial activity even in the presence of H₂S. The sulfided Ca/Pd/SiO₂ mixed with γ-Al₂O₃ was also available for in situ DME synthesis in the presence of H₂S.     

Production of gasoline range hydrocarbons from catalytic reaction of methane in the presence of ethylene over W/HZSM-5

The catalytic conversion of a methane and ethylene mixture to gasoline range hydrocarbons has been studied over W/HZSM-5 catalyst. The effect of process variables, such as temperature, percentage of volume of ethylene in the methane stream and catalyst loading on the distribution of hydrocarbons was studied. The reaction was conducted in a fixed-bed quartz-micro reactor in the temperature range of 300–500 °C using percentage of volume of ethylene in methane stream between 25 and 75% and catalyst loading of 0.2–0.4 g. The catalyst showed good catalytic performance yielding hydrocarbons consisting of gaseous products along with gasoline range liquid products. The mixed feed stream can be converted to higher hydrocarbons containing a high-liquid gasoline product selectivity (>42%). Non-aromatics C₅–C₁₀ hydrocarbons selectivity in the range of 12–53% was observed at the operating conditions studied. Design of experiment was employed to determine the optimum conditions for maximum liquid hydrocarbon products. The distribution of the gasoline range hydrocarbons (C₅–C₁₀ non-aromatics and aromatics hydrocarbons) was also determined for the optimum conditions.     

Effects of large pore zeolite additions in the catalytic pyrolysis catalyst on the light olefins production

To increase the light olefins selectivity of catalytic pyrolysis catalyst for heavy oil processing, the effects of large pore zeolite additions on the selectivity to light olefins (ethylene and propylene) were studied in a micro-activity test (MAT) unit at 625 °C by using Daqing heavy oil and n-decene/n-decane as feedstocks. Rare earth containing ultra-stable Y, Hβ and four types of alkali-treated Hβ with different pore size distributions were employed as the large pore zeolite components. The yields of C₂–C₃ light olefins showed a volcano trend with the increasing amount of large pore zeolite additions. They reached up to 24.5 and 26.7 wt%, respectively, when an optimum combination of zeolites ZSM-5 and RE-USY or ZSM-5 and alkali-treated Hβ was used. Moreover, increasing the pore size of large pore zeolites also led to the increases in the yields of light olefins, the maximum total yields of ethylene and propylene reached up to 26.7 wt% when the total pore volume of the zeolite Hβ added was 0.452 cm³ g⁻¹.     

CO hydrogenation over a rhodium vanadate catalyst: Reduction and regeneration of RhVO4 on SiO2

The hydrogenation of CO over an Rh vanadate (RhVO₄) catalyst supported on SiO₂ (RhVO₄/SiO₂) has been investigated after H₂ reduction at 500°C, and the results are compared with those of vanadia-promoted (V₂O₅–Rh/SiO₂) and unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. The mean size of Rh particles, which were dispersed by the decomposition of RhVO₄ after the H₂ reduction, was smaller (41 Å) than those (91–101 Å) of V₂O₅–Rh/SiO₂ and Rh/SiO₂ catalysts. The RhVO₄/SiO₂ catalyst showed higher activity and selectivity to C₂ oxygenates than the unpromoted Rh/SiO₂ catalyst after the H₂ pretreatment. The CO conversion of the RhVO₄/SiO₂ catalyst was much higher than that of V₂O₅–Rh/SiO₂ catalyst, and the yield of C₂ oxygenates increased. We also found that the RhVO₄/SiO₂ catalyst can be regenerated by calcination or O₂ treatment at high temperature after the reaction.     

无黏结剂ZSM-35沸石的制备与催化反应性能

考察了不同硅铝比无黏结剂ZSM-35沸石分子筛的合成条件及催化反应性能。以多种有机胺（乙二胺、环己胺、正丁胺）为模板剂,在SiO₂/Al₂O₃为30～40的情况下均可以水热合成无黏结剂ZSM-35沸石。在乙二胺模板剂体系中,ZSM-35合适的晶化温度为130～160℃。提高SiO₂/Al₂O₃至58时,在乙二胺和正丁胺模板剂体系下,合成产物易出现ZSM-5和石英相,而环己胺作为模板剂可以成功制备纯相的无黏结剂ZSM-35沸石。在SiO₂/Al₂O₃为72时,以乙二胺、环己胺、正丁胺为模板剂均难合成纯相ZSM-35沸石,易产生杂晶。在二甲苯异构化反应中,制备的ZSM-35沸石表现出比ZSM-5沸石更好的对二甲苯选择性和更低的二甲苯损失。     

Plasma methane conversion using dielectric-barrier discharges with zeolite A

Experimental investigation on plasma methane conversion in the presence of carbon dioxide using dielectric-barrier discharges (DBDs) has been conducted. Zeolite A has been applied to inhibit the formation of carbon black and plasma-polymerized film during such plasma methane conversion. A co-generation of syngas, light hydrocarbons and liquid fuels has been achieved. The conversions and selectivities are determined by the CH₄/CO₂ feed ratio, residence time and input power. Compared to the use of zeolite X within the DBDs, plasma methane conversion with zeolite A leads to a higher selectivity of light hydrocarbons (C₂–C₄).     

Oxidation state of palladium as a factor controlling catalytic activity of Pd/SiO2–Al2O3 in propane combustion

The oxidation state of palladium on SiO₂–Al₂O₃ used for propane combustion was examined by XPS and XRD, and the correlation of the catalytic activity with the oxidation state of palladium was systematically studied. The propane conversion over 5 wt% Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ was measured in the range 1.0≤S≤7.2 (S is defined as [O₂]/5[C₃H₈] based on stoichiometric ratio). The propane conversion strongly depended on the S value and reached the maximum at S=5.5. The oxidation state of palladium also changed with the S value; palladium particles were more oxidized under the reaction mixture of higher S value. On the sample used for the reaction at S=5.5, both of metallic palladium and palladium oxide were found. It is concluded that partially oxidized palladium which has optimum ratio of metallic palladium to palladium oxide shows the highest catalytic activity in propane combustion.     

Conversion of waste plastics into fuels: Recycling polyethylene in FCC

Low density polyethylene was dissolved into toluene and converted at 500 °C over three different commercial FCC catalysts in a laboratory Riser Simulator reactor. Short reaction-times up to 12 s were used. All the catalysts had qualitatively similar behaviors. The specific contribution of the polymer to the product slate of FCC was centered in hydrocarbons in the range of gasoline, with high aromatic content and highly olefinic C₃–C₄ gases. Saturated C₄–C₅ products were mainly isoparaffins. The additional coke formed by the polymer would make coke yields to increase moderately in relation to the standard operation. These facts confirmed that this recycling option, which is based on a proven technology, represents an interesting alternative to solve a major environmental problem.     

预成型高岭土干胶转化合成NaY型分子筛

通过干胶转化法制备了整体式NaY分子筛,采用XRD、SEM及XRF分析表征原料及产物,系统考察了合成体系的n（SiO₂）/n（Al₂O₃）、n（Na₂O）/n（SiO₂）、水量、晶化温度和晶化时间对整体式NaY分子筛制备的影响。结果表明,合成体系n（SiO₂）/n（Al₂O₃）=7.5时,骨架硅铝比（二氧化硅与氧化铝物质的量比）最大为6.12;n（Na₂O）/n（SiO₂）逐渐增大,整体式NaY分子筛结晶度逐渐升高,当n（Na₂O）/n（SiO₂）增至0.35时,会导致P型分子筛的生成;晶化温度从90 ℃逐渐增至120 ℃时,整体式NaY分子筛结晶度也随之升高;在110 ℃下晶化20 h,产物的结晶度达到98%并趋于稳定。干胶转化制备整体式NaY分子筛必须有水的参与,n（H₂O）/n（SiO₂）为4.2左右对反应物的成型及整体式NaY分子筛的晶化较为适宜。     

Oligomerization pathways of dichlorodifluoromethane hydrodechlorination catalyzed by activated carbon supported Pt-Cu, Pt-Ag, Pt-Fe, and Pt-Co

Activated carbon-supported Pt-Cu, Pt-Ag, Pt-Co, Pt-Fe, and Pt catalyze the formation of oligomerization products from CF₂Cl₂ and H₂ mixture (1:1 ratio) at 523 K. All catalysts deactivate with time on stream. The Pt-Co/C catalyst exhibits the highest selectivity toward C₂–C₃ hydrocarbons (50%), whereas Pt-Cu/C is the most selective toward tetrafluoroethylene (20%). The other catalysts (Pt, Pt-Ag, Pt-Fe) exhibit negligible oligomerization activity, CH₄ and partially halogenated C₁ molecules are the main products. The performance of each catalyst is understood in terms of the difference in the stability of bimetallic particles toward segregation under dechlorination conditions.     

Adsorption properties of a Pd/γ-Al2O3 catalyst using inverse gas chromatography

The adsorption properties of a commercial Pd/Al₂O₃ catalyst were studied and compared with those of the Al₂O₃ support of the same specific surface area. Inverse gas chromatography (IGC) was used to determine the adsorption isotherms of five n-alkanes (C₈–C₁₂) in the 200–230 °C temperature range. Moreover, heats of adsorption, solubility coefficients and free energy of adsorption, are also reported. Interaction parameters of polar molecules with the stationary phase have also been determined and compared with those for the n-alkanes. Experiments with both the reduced and oxidized catalyst have been carried out by IGC and the results compared with those obtained by temperature programmed reduction (TPR) experiments.     

Hydroisomerisation of n-alkanes over partially reduced MoO3: Promotion by CoAlPO-11 and relations to reaction mechanism and rate-determining step

The reaction mechanism and the rate-determining step (RDS) of the isomerisation of n-alkanes (C₄–C₆) over partially reduced MoO₃ catalysts were studied through the effects of the addition of an alkene isomerisation catalyst (i.e. CoAlPO-11). When an acidic CoAlPO-11 sample was mechanically mixed with the MoO₃, a decrease of the induction period and an increase of the steady-state conversion of n-butane to isobutane were observed. These data support previous assumptions that a bifunctional mechanism occurred over the partially reduced MoO₃ (a complex nanoscale mixture of oxide-based phases) during n-butane isomerisation and that the RDS was the skeletal isomerisation of the linear butene intermediates. The only promotional effect of CoAlPO-11 on the activity of partially reduced MoO₃ for C₅–C₆ alkane hydroisomerisation was a reduction of the induction period, as the RDS at steady-state conditions appeared to be dehydrogenation of the alkane in this case. However, lower yields of branched isomers were observed in this case, the reason of which is yet unclear.     

Catalytic activity of dispersed CuO phases towards nitrogen oxides (N2O, NO, and NO2)

A systematic reactivity study of N₂O, NO, and NO₂ on highly dispersed CuO phases over modified silica supports (SiO₂–Al₂O₃, SiO₂–TiO₂, and SiO₂–ZrO₂) has been performed. Different reaction paths for the nitrogen oxide species abatement were studied: from direct decomposition (N₂O) to selective reductions by hydrocarbons (N₂O, NO, and NO₂) and oxidation (NO to NO₂). The oxygen concentration, temperature, and contact time, were varied within suitable ranges in order to investigate the activity and in particular the selectivity in the different reactions studied. The support deeply influenced the catalytic properties of the active copper phase. The most acidic supports, SiO₂–Al₂O₃ and SiO₂–ZrO₂, led to a better activity and selectivity of CuO for the reactions of N₂O, NO, and NO₂ reductions and N₂O decomposition than SiO₂–TiO₂. The catalytic results are discussed in terms of actual turnover frequencies starting from the knowledge of the copper dispersion values.     

NOx storage and reduction characteristics of Pd/MnOx–CeO2 at low temperature

The reaction between hydrogen and NO was studied over 1 wt.% Pd supported on NO_x-sorbing material, MnO_x–CeO₂, at low temperatures. The result of pulse mode reactions suggest that NO_x adsorbed as nitrate and/or nitrite on MnO_x–CeO₂ was reduced by hydrogen, which was spilt-over from Pd catalyst. The NO_x storage and reduction (NSR) cycles were carried out over Pd/MnO_x–CeO₂ in a conventional flow reactor at 150 °C. In a storage step, NO was removed by the oxidative adsorption from a stream of 0.04–0.08% NO, 5–10% O₂, and He balance. This was followed by a reducing step, where a stream of 1% H₂/He was supplied to ensure the conversion of nitrate/nitrite to N₂ and thus restore the adsorbability. It was revealed that the NSR cycle is much more suitable for the H₂–deNO_x process in excess O₂, compared to a conventional steady state reaction mode.