Catalytic oxidation of methane over hexaaluminates and hexaaluminate-supported Pd catalysts

An aqueous (NH₄)₂CO₃ coprecipitation method, based on that of Groppi et al. [Appl. Catal. A 104 (1993) 101–108] was used to synthesize Sr_1−xLa_xMnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ hexaaluminates. These materials were first synthesized by alkoxide hydrolysis. This synthesis route requires special handling of the starting materials and is not likely to be commercially practical. The materials prepared by (NH₄)₂CO₃ coprecipitation have similar surface areas as those prepared by the alkoxide hydrolysis method. Their CH₄ oxidation activity, measured as the temperature needed for 10% conversion of methane, is higher than those prepared by alkoxide hydrolysis. The La-substantiated material, LaMnAl₁₁O₁₉₋, shows high surface area with 19.3 m²/g after calcination at 1400°C for 2 h. It is active for CH₄ oxidation with T_10% at 450°C using 1% CH₄ in air and 70 000 cm³/h g space velocity. The stability and activity of LaMnAl₁₁O₁₉₋ prepared by (NH₄)₂CO₃ coprecipitation method is a simple and important step forward for the application of CH₄ catalytic combustion for gas turbines.     

Mechanistic evidence of the partial oxidation of methane to formaldehdye over silica based oxide catalysts by temperature programmed reaction studies

The catalytic behaviour of SiO₂ supported MoO₂ and V₂O₅ catalysts in the partial oxidation of methane to formaldehyde with O₂ (MPO) in the range 400–800°C has been investigated by temperature programmed reaction (TPR) tests. Both the sequence of the onset temperature of product formation and the product distribution patterns signal that MPO on silica based oxide catalysts occurs mainly via a consecutive reaction path: CH₄ → HCHO → CO → CO₂. At T >/ 700°C a parallel surface assisted gas-phase reaction pathway leads to the formation of minor amounts of C₂ products both on SiO₂ and MoO₃/SiO₂ catalysts. The redox properties of MoO₃/SiO₂ and V₂O₅SiO₂ catalysts have been systematically evaluated by H₂ and CH₄ temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR, CH₄-TPR) measurements. H₂-TPR results do not account for the reactivity scale of oxide catalysts in the MPO. CH₄-TPR measurements indicate that the enhancement in the specific activity of the silica is controlled by the capability of MoO₃ and V₂O₅ promoters in providing ‘active’ lattice oxygen species.     

NO reduction by CH4 in the presence of O2 over La2O3 supported on Al2O3

Dispersing La₂O₃ on δ- or γ-Al₂O₃ significantly enhances the rate of NO reduction by CH₄ in 1% O₂, compared to unsupported La₂O₃. Typically, no bend-over in activity occurs between 500° and 700°C, and the rate at 700°C is 60% higher than that with a Co/ZSM-5 catalyst. The final activity was dependent upon the La₂O₃ precursor used, the pretreatment, and the La₂O₃ loading. The most active family of catalysts consisted of La₂O₃ on γ-Al₂O₃ prepared with lanthanum acetate and calcined at 750°C for 10 h. A maximum in rate (mol/s/g) and specific activity (mol/s/m²) occurred between the addition of one and two theoretical monolayers of La₂O₃ on the γ-Al₂O₃ surface. The best catalyst, 40% La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃, had a turnover frequency at 700°C of 0.05 s⁻¹, based on NO chemisorption at 25°C, which was 15 times higher than that for Co/ZSM-5. These La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts exhibited stable activity under high conversion conditions as well as high CH₄ selectivity (CH₄ + NO vs. CH₄ + O₂). The addition of Sr to a 20% La₂O₃/γ-Al₂O₃ sample increased activity, and a maximum rate enhancement of 45% was obtained at a SrO loading of 5%. In contrast, addition of SO⁼₄ to the latter Sr-promoted La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalyst decreased activity although sulfate increased the activity of Sr-promoted La₂O₃. Dispersing La₂O₃ on SiO₂ produced catalysts with extremely low specific activities, and rates were even lower than with pure La₂O₃. This is presumably due to water sensitivity and silicate formation. The La₂O₃/Al₂O₃ catalysts are anticipated to show sufficient hydrothermal stability to allow their use in certain high-temperature applications.     

A self-contained catalyst for the reduction of NO2

The reduction of NO₂ to N₂ at temperatures as low as 150°C without the use of an externally supplied reductant can be achieved with a microporous solid, (NH₄)₃PW₁₂O₄₀. Temperature-programmed experiments with NO, NO₂ and ammonium salts labelled with¹⁵N show that NH₃ is not released from the solid until a temperature of 400°C or greater is attained. These observations, together with the high selectivities to N¹⁵N, show that NO_x is predominantly interacting with the bound NH₃ rather than that in the gas phase. After depletion of the NH₃ bound as NH⁺₄ the parent acid remains, on which additional NO_x is sorbed irreversibly. The sorbed NO_x can be removed from the solid by water treatment at elevated temperatures and the ammonium salt can be regenerated by a precipitation process or by direct injection of NH₃ into the catalyst bed when the process is off-line.     

Surface and catalytic properties of Cr2O3/MgO system doped with manganese and cobalt oxides

The effects of cobalt and manganese oxides-doping on surface and catalytic properties of Cr₂O₃/MgO system have been investigated. The dopant concentration was changed between 1 and 5 mol% cobalt and manganese oxides. Pure and variously doped solids were subjected to heat treatment at 400 and 700 °C. The techniques employed were X-ray diffraction (XRD), nitrogen adsorption at –196 °C, catalytic conversion of iso-propanol at 200–400 °C using flow technique and catalytic decomposition of H₂O₂ at 20–40 °C. The results revealed that the doping process of the system investigated followed by calcinations at 400 or 700 °C, enhanced the solid–solid interactions between catalyst constituents yielding (-MgCrO₄, β-MgCrO₄) and MgCr₂O₄, respectively. Furthermore, manganese and cobalt oxide-doping for Cr₂O₃/MgO system increased its catalytic activity much towards H₂O₂-decomposition. The increase was, however, more pronounced in the case of manganese-doping. Opposite results have been observed in the case of iso-propanol conversion, which proceeds via dehydrogenation and dehydration reaction. The S_BET of the investigated system was found to decrease by increasing the dopant concentration. The doping process did not modify the activation energy of the catalyzed reaction, but rather changed the concentration of the catalytically active constituents without changing their energetic nature.     

A regenerable Fe/AC desulfurizer for SO2 adsorption at low temperatures

A novel regenerable Fe/activated coke (AC) desulfurizer prepared by impregnation of Fe(NO₃)₃ on an activated coke was investigated. Experiment results showed that at 200 °C the SO₂ adsorption capacity of the Fe/AC was higher than that of AC or Fe₂O₃. Temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) revealed that H₂SO₄ and Fe₂(SO₄)₃ were generated on the desulfurizer upon adsorption of SO₂. Effect of desulfurization temperature was also investigated which revealed that with increasing temperature from 150 to 250 °C, the SO₂ removal ability gradually increases. The used Fe/AC can be regenerated by NH₃ at 350 °C to directly form solid ammonium-sulfate salts.     

Transient modeling of combined catalytic combustion/CH4 steam reforming

This paper presents an investigation into the complex interactions between catalytic combustion and CH₄ steam reforming in a co-flow heat exchanger where the surface combustion drives the endothermic steam reforming on opposite sides of separating plates in alternating channel flows. To this end, a simplified transient model was established to assess the stability of a system combining H₂ or CH₄ combustion over a supported Pd catalyst and CH₄ steam reforming over a supported Rh catalyst. The model uses previously reported detailed surface chemistry mechanisms, and results compared favorably with experiments using a flat-plate reactor with simultaneous H₂ combustion over a γ-Al₂O₃-supported Pd catalyst and CH₄ steam reforming over a γ-Al₂O₃-supported Rh catalyst. Results indicate that stable reactor operation is achievable at relatively low inlet temperatures (400 °C) with H₂ combustion. Model results for a reactor with CH₄ combustion indicated that stable reactor operation with reforming fuel conversion to H₂ requires higher inlet temperatures. The results indicate that slow transient decay of conversion, on the order of minutes, can arise due to loss of combustion activity from high-temperature reduction of the Pd catalyst near the reactor entrance. However, model results also show that under preferred conditions, the endothermic reforming can be sustained with adequate conversion to maintain combustion catalyst temperatures within the range where activity is high. A parametric study of combustion inlet stoichiometry, temperature, and velocity reveals that higher combustion fuel/air ratios are preferred with lower inlet temperatures (≤500 °C) while lower fuel/air ratios are necessary at higher inlet temperatures (600 °C).     

Crystalline galliosilicate molecular sieves with the beta structure

Crystalline galliosilicates with the beta structure have been synthesized from alkali-free hydrogels with the composition Ga₂O₃:xSiO₂:12(TEA)₂O:1285H₂O, where x=40, 60, 80 and 100. The addition of an alkali (Ga₂O₃/Na₂O=1.0) to the hydrogel in the form of sodium gallate decreased crystallization times at 135°C to 10 days from 14 days. Crystallization reactions are not stoichiometric and the crystals' silica-to-gallia ratio (SGR) is always less than that in the parent hydrogel. Thermal analysis has shown that TEA ions first decompose and are then thermally desorbed, probably in the form of Hofmann decomposition products. Residual hydrocarbons are burned at T>400°C. The calcined crystals have surface area in the 500–625 m² g⁻¹ range. FTIR experiments with chemisorbed pyridine have shown that the isomorphous substitution of Al(IV) with Ga(IV) atoms decreases the acid-site strength and changes the relative B/L acid-site ratio of the crystals. IR spectra at a desorption temperature of 500°C revealed that all the pyridine desorbed from B sites but not from L sites in Ga-beta, whereas the Al-beta analog retained pyridine on both L and B sites. Microcalorimetry experiments with ammonia at 150°C have revealed the existence of different acid-site (B+L) strengths and site populations. The total number of sites available to NH₃ chemisorption and the number of strong acid sites show the same dependence on the SGR value of the crystals. ²⁹Si MAS-NMR spectra contain a resonance at −111 ppm attributed to T(4Si,0Ga) groups and a second resonance at −102 ppm attributed to T(3Si,1Ga) groups. ⁷¹Ga NMR spectra confirm that Ga(IV) is the dominant species and that Ga(VI) formation depends, in part, on the thermal pretreatment applied to the crystals. ¹H NMR results have revealed that after calcination in air at 500°C, there are residual hydrocarbon compounds in the beta microporous structure. This can be avoided if the organic template is decomposed in nitrogen at 500°C for 1 h and the decomposition products are removed oxidatively by a second calcination step in air at 550°C for 2 h.     

Modification of alumina bubbles with ammonium aluminum sulphate

Ammonium aluminum sulphate was introduced to modify alumina bubbles by the wet chemical method. Distribution of ammonium aluminum sulphate, in situ decomposition characteristics, microstructure and mechanical properties of the modified alumina bubbles were investigated by SEM, XRD, BET and by a purposely designed experimental device for the measurement of compressive resistance. Experimental results showed that an ammonium aluminum sulphate thin film was formed on the surface of the alumina bubbles, at the same time, ammonium aluminum sulphate also infiltrated into the flaws and cavities of the alumina bubbles. After heat-treated at 900 °C, the ammonium aluminum sulphate on the alumina bubbles could be in situ decomposed to γ-Al₂O₃ with high activity. The compressive resistance of the modified alumina bubbles was enhanced from 15.6N to 38.7N after heat-treatment at 1700 °C for 2 h.     

The activity of nickel chromite catalyst

The nickel oxide—chromia gel powder solid-state reaction was followed at 400° – 1200 °C. The reaction fits kinetically the Jander and/or Ginstling-Brounshtein equation. Catalytic activity towards H₂O₂ decomposition was correlated with pertaining formation structural changes including tetragonal deformation of NiCr₂O₄.     

Thermal evolution of Fe2O3-TiO2 sol-gel thin films

Fe₂O₃-TiO₂ thin films were deposited on silica glass slides using three sol-gel solutions containing Ti-butoxide and different iron oxide precursors. The thermal evolution of the coatings was followed by DTA-TGA and XRD from 200 to 1000°C. All the iron-containing samples were amorphous up to 700°C, when a phase separation between iron and titanium oxides was evidenced by the presence of crystalline Fe₂O₃. Above that temperature a titanate compound (pseudobrookite) formed according to the equilibrium phase diagram. The use of different precursors did not affect the thermal evolution and all the different samples exhibited the same trend.     

Selective removal of H2S from coke oven gas

The catalytic performance of some metal oxides in the selective oxidation of H₂S in the stream containing water vapor and ammonia was investigated in this study. Among the catalysts tested, V₂O₅/SiO₂ and Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ catalyst showed good conversion of H₂S with very low selectivity to undesired SO₂. Hydrogen sulfide could be recovered as harmless solid products (elemental sulfur and various ammonium salts), and distribution of solid products was varied with types of catalyst and compositions of reactant. XRD and FT-IR analysis revealed that the salt was mixture of ammonium–sulfur–oxygen compounds. It was noteworthy that V₂O₅/SiO₂ catalyst produced elemental sulfur and ammonium thiosulfate, and that elemental sulfur was principal product on Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ catalyst. Small amount of ammonium sulfate was obtained with the Fe₂O₃/SiO₂ catalyst. In order to elucidate the reaction path, the effects of O₂/H₂S ratio and concentration of NH₃ and H₂O are also studied with the V₂O₅/SiO₂ catalyst.     

化学链燃烧过程Fe2O3/Al2O3载氧体表面CH4反应：ReaxFF-MD模拟

借助ReaxFF-MD方法,对化学链燃烧过程Al₂O₃负载Fe₂O₃载氧体（Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃）表面CH₄反应过程模拟,探究Al₂O₃惰性载体对Fe₂O₃-CH₄体系燃烧过程的调控机制。研究发现添加Al₂O₃惰性载体改变了化学链燃烧过程中Fe₂O₃载氧体反应性和Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃-CH₄反应体系的热力学和动力学行为。主要是促进了Fe₂O₃载氧体表面CH₄氧化,并对CH₄反应过程、中间体、产物及其反应速率和放热量等均具有显著促进和调控作用。原因在于Al₂O₃惰性载体对Fe₂O₃活性相中晶格氧的活化作用促进了晶格氧的迁移-扩散-释放。添加惰性载体增强了Fe₂O₃载氧体在化学链燃烧过程晶格氧释放速率和释放量,有利于CH₄氧化燃烧向合成气的高效、清洁转化,强化了化学链燃烧过程,满足当前能源高效转化和碳减排目标。     

化学链燃烧过程Fe2O3/Al2O3载氧体表面CH4反应：ReaxFF-MD模拟

借助ReaxFF-MD方法,对化学链燃烧过程Al₂O₃负载Fe₂O₃载氧体（Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃）表面CH₄反应过程模拟,探究Al₂O₃惰性载体对Fe₂O₃-CH₄体系燃烧过程的调控机制。研究发现添加Al₂O₃惰性载体改变了化学链燃烧过程中Fe₂O₃载氧体反应性和Fe₂O₃/Al₂O₃-CH₄反应体系的热力学和动力学行为。主要是促进了Fe₂O₃载氧体表面CH₄氧化,并对CH₄反应过程、中间体、产物及其反应速率和放热量等均具有显著促进和调控作用。原因在于Al₂O₃惰性载体对Fe₂O₃活性相中晶格氧的活化作用促进了晶格氧的迁移-扩散-释放。添加惰性载体增强了Fe₂O₃载氧体在化学链燃烧过程晶格氧释放速率和释放量,有利于CH₄氧化燃烧向合成气的高效、清洁转化,强化了化学链燃烧过程,满足当前能源高效转化和碳减排目标。     

蛋白土与硫酸铵煅烧反应产物及过程动力学

蛋白土具有良好的应用前景,但是其自然白度较低制约了其开发应用。蛋白土硫酸铵煅烧法可去除其中的显色金属氧化物,提高蛋白土的白度,同时提取其中Al₂O₃。本文采用热重-差示扫描量热（TG-DSC）、同步热分析与红外质谱（TG-FTIR-MS）联用系统,结合X射线衍射对煅烧过程的固相及气相产物进行了表征分析,明析了其化学过程。结果表明,蛋白土中的Al₂O₃和Fe₂O₃在200~350℃时反应生成（NH₄）₃（Al,Fe）（SO₄）₃,同时逸出NH₃和H₂O;350~450℃时,进一步反应转化为NH₄（Al,Fe）（SO₄）₂,同时逸出NH₃、H₂O、SO₂和O₂;450~550℃时,NH₄（Al,Fe）（SO₄）₂分解生成（Al,Fe）₂（SO₄）₃,同时逸出NH₃、H₂O、SO₂和O₂;550~750℃时（Al,Fe）₂（SO₄）₃分解生成Al₂O₃和Fe₂O₃,同时逸出SO₂和O₂。采用Kissinger微分法与Ozawa积分法分别计算出4个阶段表观活化能后取二者平均值,分别为101.74kJ/mol、104.52kJ/mol、201.40kJ/mol、232.51kJ/mol,并获得对应4个热化学反应阶段的频率因子、反应级数和动力学方程。     

Oxidation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine over heterogeneous catalysts Solution of environmental problems of production, storage and disposal of highly toxic rocket fuels

The catalytic oxidation of unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine (UDMH) by air has been studied in a vibro-fluidized catalyst bed laboratory kinetic setup over catalysts Cu_xMg_1−xCr₂O₄/γ-Al₂O₃, 32.9%Ir/γ-Al₂O₃ and β-Si₃N₄ in a temperature range 150–400 °C. The catalyst Cu_xMg_1−xCr₂O₄/γ-Al₂O₃ was found to be optimal regarding high yields of CO₂ and low yields of NO_x. A probable mechanism of UDMH heterogeneous catalytic oxidation is proposed. Catalyst Cu_xMg_1−xCr₂O₄/γ-Al₂O₃ has been further used in the pilot plant specially designed for the destruction of UDMH. Results of testing the main fluidized bed catalytic reactor for UDMH oxidation and the reactor for selective catalytic reduction of NO_x with NH₃ are presented. These results prove that the developed UDMH destruction technology is highly efficient and environmentally safe.     

Synthesis, structure and thermal properties of a novel 3D aluminophosphate UiO-26

The synthesis of a novel 3D aluminophosphate is described. The thermal properties of the material were investigated, and the existence of three high-temperature variants was revealed. The crystal structures of the as-synthesized material (UiO-26-as) and the material existing around 250°C (UiO-26-250) were solved from powder X-ray diffraction data. UiO-26-as with the composition [Al₄O(PO₄)₄(H₂O)]²⁻[NH₃(CH₂)₃NH₃]²⁺ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c (no. 14) with a=19.1912(5), b=9.3470(2), c=9.6375(2) Å and β=92.709(2)°. It exhibits a 3D open framework consisting of connections by PO₄ tetrahedra with AlO₄ tetrahedra, AlO₅ trigonal bipyramids and AlO₅(H₂O) octahedra forming two types of layers stacked along [1 0 0] and connected by Al–O–P bondings. The structure possesses a 1D 10-ring channel system running along [0 0 1], in which doubly protonated 1,3-diaminopropane molecules are located. UiO-26-250 with the composition [Al₄O(PO₄)₄]²⁻[NH₃(CH₂)₃NH₃]²⁺ crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with a=19.2491(4), b=9.27497(20), c=9.70189(20) Å and β=93.7929(17)°. The transformation to UiO-26-250 involves removal of the water molecule which originally is coordinated to aluminum. The rest of the structure remains virtually unchanged. The crystal structures of the two other variants existing around 400 (UiO-26-400) and 600°C (UiO-26-600) remain unknown.     

Formation of niobium double oxides by the glycothermal method

Thermal reaction of niobium alkoxide in organic media at 300°C yielded amorphous niobia, which maintained a surface area above 130 m²/g after calcination at 500°C. Niobium double oxides (LiNbO₃, Zr₆Nb₂O₁₇, CaNb₂O₆, CrNbO₄, FeNbO₄, ZnNb₂O₆ and R₃NbO₇ (R; rare earth)) were directly obtained by the reaction of niobium alkoxide with the corresponding metal alkoxide, acetate or acetylacetonate in 1,4-butanediol at 300°C. In some cases, amorphous product was obtained; however, double oxides (SrNb₂O₆, Co₄Nb₂O₉, etc.) crystallized from the products at low temperatures.     

Regeneration of S-poisoned Pd/Al2O3 catalysts for the combustion of methane

Regeneration of S-poisoned Pd/Al₂O₃ catalysts for the abatement of methane emissions from natural gas vehicles was addressed in this work.

Investigations were devoted to determine the temperature threshold allowing for catalyst reactivation under different CH₄ containing atmospheres. Under lean combustion conditions in the presence of excess O₂, partial regeneration took place only above 750 °C after decomposition of stable sulphate species adsorbed on the support. Short CH₄-reducing, O₂-free pulses led to partial catalyst reactivation already at 550 °C and to practically complete regeneration at 600 °C. Also in this case reactivation was associated with SO₂ release due to the decomposition of stable support sulphates likely promoted by CH₄ activation onto the reduced metallic Pd surface. Rich combustion pulses with CH₄/O₂ = 2 were equally effective to CH₄-reducing pulses in catalyst regeneration.

These results suggest that a regeneration strategy based on periodical natural gas pulses fed to the catalyst by a by-pass line might be efficient in limiting the effects of S-poisoning of palladium catalysts for the abatement of CH₄ emissions from natural gas engine.     

Piezoelectric properties of Pb(Mn1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbZrO3–PbTiO3 ceramics with sintering aid of 2CaO–Fe2O3 compound

Since the electromechanical devices move towards enhanced power density, high mechanical quality factor (Q_m) and electromechanical coupling factor (k_p) are commonly needed for the high powered piezoelectric transformer with Q_m≥2000 and k_p=0.60. Although Pb(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–PbZrO₃–PbTiO₃ (PMnN–PZ–PT) ceramic system has potential for piezoelectric transformer application, further improvements of Q_m and k_p are needed. Addition of 2CaO–Fe₂O₃ has been proved to have many beneficial effects on Pb(Zr,Ti)O₃ ceramics. Therefore, 2CaO–Fe₂O₃ is used as additive in order to improve the piezoelectric properties in this study. The piezoelectric properties, density and microstructures of 0.07Pb(Mn_1/3Nb_2/3)O₃–0.468PbZrO₃–0.462PbTiO₃ (PMnN–PZ–PT) piezoelectric ceramics with 2CaO–Fe₂O₃ additive sintered at 1100 and 1250 °C have been studied. When sintering temperature is 1250 °C, Q_m has the maximum 2150 with 0.3 wt.% 2CaO–Fe₂O₃ addition. The k_p more than 0.6 is observed for samples sintered at 1100 °C. The addition of 2CaO–Fe₂O₃ can significantly enhance the densification of PMnN–PZ–PT ceramics when the sintering temperature is 1250 °C. The grain growth occurred with the amount of 2CaO–Fe₂O₃ at both sintering temperatures.