Active sites of Cu-ZSM-5 for the decomposition of acrylonitrile

The catalytic decomposition of acrylonitrile (AN) over Cu-ZSM-5 prepared with various Cu loadings was investigated. AN conversion, during which the nitrogen atoms in AN were mainly converted to N₂, increased as Cu loading increased. N₂ selectivities as high as 90–95% were attained. X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD) and temperature-programmed reduction by H₂ (H₂-TPR) showed the existence of bulk CuO in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 6.4 wt% and the existence of highly dispersed CuO in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 3.3 wt%. Electron spin resonance measurements revealed that Cu-ZSM-5 contains three forms of isolated Cu²⁺ ions (square-planar, square-pyramidal, and distorted square-pyramidal). The H₂-TPR results suggested that in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 2.9 wt% and below, Cu⁺ existed even after oxidizing pretreatment. The activity of AN decomposition over Cu/SiO₂ suggested that CuO could form N₂, but, independent of the CuO dispersion, nitrogen oxides (NO_x) were formed above 350 °C. Cu⁺ and the square-pyramidal and distorted square-pyramidal forms of Cu²⁺ showed low activity for AN decomposition. Temperature-programmed desorption of NH₃ suggested that N₂ formation from NH₃ proceeded on Cu²⁺, resulting in the formation of Cu⁺. The Cu⁺ ions were oxidized to Cu²⁺ at around 300 °C. Thus, high N₂ selectivity over Cu-ZSM-5 with a wide range of temperature was probably attained by the reaction over the square-planar Cu²⁺, which can be reversibly reduced and oxidized.     

Catalytic dehydrogenative coupling of methane on active carbon. Effect of metal supported on active carbon

Ethane, ethene, ethyne and hydrogen are obtained in good yields via dehydrogenative coupling of methane in the presence of active carbon as a catalyst. The product yield is increased by supporting metal on active carbon.     

High Resistance of Cu–Ferrierite to Coke Formation During NH3-SCR in the Presence of n-Decane

Selective catalytic reduction of NO _x by NH₃ over Cu–FER and Cu–ZSM-5 in the presence of n-decane and SO₂ was investigated. NO _x conversion over Cu–ZSM-5 decreased in the presence of n-decane, owing to inhibition of the active sites by coke formation. In contrast, coke formation was negligible over Cu–FER, which maintained its NO _x conversion activity even in the presence of decane. Coke formation was negligible over H–ZSM-5 and H–FER supports, which suggests that Cu species were involved in coke formation. Temperature-programmed reduction by H₂ and electron spin resonance spectroscopy indicated that [Cu–O–Cu]²⁺ was probably the Cu species involved in coke formation over Cu–ZSM-5.     

Field evaluation of UHF radio propagation for an ITS safety system in an urban environment

Roadside-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-vehicle communication systems have been proposed as part of ITS development to help achieve vehicle safety and realize more secure road traffic environments. In this article we first introduce several typical applications and their radio range requirements for vehicle safety communication systems to clarify the technical point of view. Then we show some field experiment results in an urban area in Tokyo to investigate and verify the radio propagation characteristics and the quality of communications by using a wireless radio prototype system. Finally, we conclude that the current prototype system has potential to fulfill the radio range requirements of vehicle safety communications, but there are still lots of issues that need to be addressed.     

Application of Poly(acetic Acid)–Based Graft Copolymer as a Compatibilizer for Poly(L-lactic Acid)/Poly(butylenesuccinate) Blend System

Poly(L-lactic acid) (PLLA) was blended with poly(butylenesuccinate) (PBS) using a single-screw extruder to modify the poor characteristics of these polymers. Furthermore, when both polymers were blended, the graft copolymer that was synthesized by partially saponified poly(vinyl alcohol) (PSPVA) and ?-caprolactone (?-CL) was used as a novel compatibilizer. The structure of the synthesized compatibilizer was determined by ¹H or ¹³C NMR. From this result, the ring-opening polymerization of the ?-CL occurred at the hydroxyl group of PSPVA. The structures of the PLLA/PBS solvent-cast blended films could be observed via an optical microscope. From the optical microscopic observation, the structures of the solvent-cast blended films with the synthesized compatibilizer were more homogeneous than those of the solvent-cast blended films without the compatibilizer. The mechanical properties of the PLLA/PBS extruded blended films were determined by a tensile test. The result showed the tensile strength of the blended films with the synthesized compatibilizer was greater than that of the blended films without the compatibilizer.     

Parametric Matter

The assimilation of digital techniques in production and manufacturing has enabled innovative explorations into nonstandard material organisation. Yusuke Obuchi, Theodore Spyropoulos and Tom Verebes of the Design Research Lab (DRL) at the Architectural Association (AA) describe how an interest in a textiles approach has developed out of a preoccupation with the interrelationship between material and computational design methods. They describe three projects that aspire to embed forms of material intelligence into architectural space. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Selective reduction of nitrogen oxides with various organic substances on precious metal catalysts under a high GHSV condition

Performances of Pt and Rh catalysts for the selective reduction of NO were investigated using various reducing agents under high gas hourly space velocity (GHSV). Higher activities were attained when olefins were used for both Pt and Rh catalysts, and when oxygen containing substances such as methyl tert.-butyl ether (MTBE) were used in the case of Rh catalysts. Selectivity toward N₂ for the NO converted was from 7% to 38% for Pt catalysts and from 45% to 67% for Rh catalysts. A comparison of N₂O decomposition rates on these catalysts has shown that gaseous N₂O is not a principal intermediate in the pathway for N₂ formation. The high selectivity toward N₂ for Rh/Al₂O₃ at low GHSV conditions is attributed to an additional catalytic effect of A1₂O₃, which can reduce NO₂ with propylene at temperatures as low as 350°C.     

Screening of Catalysts for Acrylonitrile Decomposition

The catalytic decomposition of acrylonitrile over various metal components (Mg, Ca, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Ga, Pd, Ag, and Pt) supported on several metal oxides (Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TiO₂, ZrO₂, and MgO) and ZSM-5 was studied. The most promising catalyst was Cu-ZSM-5, which exhibited 100% conversion and at least 80% N₂ selectivity above 350 °C.     

An exploratory study of diesel soot oxidation with NO2 and O2 on supported metal oxide catalysts

A number of supported metal oxide catalysts were screened for their catalytic performance for the oxidation of carbon black (CB; a model diesel soot) using NO₂ as the main oxidant. It was found that contact between the carbon and catalyst was a key factor in determining the rate of oxidation by NO₂. Oxides with low melting points, such as Re₂O₇, MoO₃ and V₂O₅ showed higher activities than did Fe₃O₄ and Co₃O₄. The activities of MoO₃ and V₂O₅ on various supporting materials were also examined. MoO₃/SiO₂ was the most active catalyst among the supported MoO₃ examined, whereas, V₂O₅/MCM-41 showed the highest activity among the supported V₂O₅. Different performances of the supported MoO₃ catalysts were explained by the interaction of MoO₃ with the supports: a strong MoO₃/support interaction may result in a poor mobility of MoO₃ and a poor activity for oxidation of carbon by NO₂. The high activity of V₂O₅/MCM-41 was associated with its catalysis of the oxidation of SO₂ by NO₂ to form SO₃, which substantially promotes oxidation of carbon by NO₂. Addition of transition metal oxides or sulfates to supported MoO₃ and V₂O₅ was also investigated. Combining MoO₃ or V₂O₅ with CuO on SiO₂, adding VOSO₄ to MoO₃/SiO₂ or MoO₃/Al₂O₃ and adding TiOSO₄ or CuSO₄ to V₂O₅/Al₂O₃ improved the catalytic performance.     

Carbon oxidation with platinum supported catalysts

The effect of the support oxide, Pt precursor and reactant gas composition on the catalysis of soot oxidation was investigated using carbon black as a model soot and simulated exhaust gases. The Pt precursors used were Pt(NH₃)₄(OH)₂, H₂PtCl₆·6H₂O, Pt(NH₃)₄(NO₃)₂, and Pt(NH₃)₄Cl₂. The support metal oxides used were SiO₂, Al₂O₃, and ZrO₂. Pt/SiO₂ prepared from Pt(NH₃)₄(OH)₂ showed the highest carbon oxidation activity. It had much higher activity in the condition of N₂+O₂+H₂O+NO+SO₂ than without NO and SO₂.