Catalytic Performance of Spherical MCM-41 Modified with Copper and Iron as Catalysts of NH3-SCR Process

Spherical MCM-41 with various copper and iron loadings was prepared by surfactant directed co-condensation method. The obtained samples were characterized with respect to their structure (X-ray diffraction, XRD), texture (N₂ sorption), morphology (scanning electron microscopy, SEM), chemical composition (inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry, ICP-OES), surface acidity (temperature programmed desorption of ammonia, NH₃-TPD), form, and aggregation of iron and copper species (diffuse reflectance UV-Vis spectroscopy, UV-Vis DRS) as well as their reducibility (temperature programmed reduction with hydrogen, H₂-TPR). The spherical MCM-41 samples modified with transition metals were tested as catalysts of selective catalytic reduction of NO with ammonia (NH₃-SCR). Copper containing catalysts presented high catalytic activity at low-temperature NH₃-SCR with a very high selectivity to nitrogen, which is desired reaction products. Similar results were obtained for iron containing catalysts, however in this case the loadings and forms of iron incorporated into silica samples very strongly influenced catalytic performance of the studied samples. The efficiency of the NH₃-SCR process at higher temperatures was significantly limited by the side reaction of direct ammonia oxidation. The reactivity of ammonia molecules chemisorbed on the catalysts surface in NO reduction (NH₃-SCR) and their selective oxidation (NH₃-SCO) was verified by temperature-programmed surface reactions.     

Cu-Ce-O mixed oxides from Ce-containing layered double hydroxide precursors: Controllable preparation and catalytic performance

Cu/Zn/Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) precursors have been synthesized using an anion exchange method with anionic Ce complexes containing the dipicolinate (pyridine-2,6-dicarboxylate) ligand. Cu-Ce-O mixed oxides were obtained by calcination of the Ce-containing LDHs. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis, elemental analysis, and low temperature N₂ adsorption/desorption measurements. The results reveal that the inclusion of Ce has a significant effect on the specific surface area, pore structure, and chemical state of Cu in the resulting Cu-Ce-O mixed metal oxides. The resulting changes in composition and structure, particularly the interactions between Cu and Ce centers, significantly enhance the activity of the Ce-containing materials as catalysts for the oxidation of phenol by hydrogen peroxide.     

Hydrotalcite-derived Co-containing mixed metal oxide catalysts for methanol incineration

The Co–Mg–Al mixed metal oxides were prepared by calcination of co-precipitated hydrotalcite-like precursors at various temperatures (600–800 °C), characterised with respect to chemical (AAS) and phase (XRD) composition, textural parameters (BET), form and aggregation of cobalt species (UV–vis-DRS) and their redox properties (H₂-TPR, cyclic voltammetry). Moreover, the process of thermal decomposition of hydrotalcite-like materials to mixed metal oxide systems was studied by thermogravimetric method combined with the analysis of gaseous decomposition products by mass spectrometry. Calcined hydrotalcite-like materials were tested as catalysts for methanol incineration. Catalytic performance of the oxides depended on cobalt content, Mg/Al ratio and calcination temperature. The catalysts with lower cobalt content, higher Mg/Al ratio and calcined at lower temperatures (600 or 700 °C) were less effective in the process of methanol incineration. In a series of the studied catalysts, the best results, with respect to high catalytic activity and selectivity to CO₂, were obtained for the mixed oxide with Co:Mg:Al molar ratio of 10:57:33 calcined at 800 °C. High activity of this catalyst was likely connected with the presence of a Co–Mg–Al spinel-type phases, containing easy reducible Co³⁺ cations, formed during high-temperature treatment of the hydrotalcite-like precursor.     

铈基复合氧化物催化碳烟燃烧的性能及其H2-TPR研究

采用溶胶-凝胶法或浸渍法制备了不同金属离子掺杂的铈基复合氧化物催化剂,并采用热重法考察其催化碳烟燃烧的活性,借助H₂-TPR(程序升温还原)手段探讨了催化剂氧化还原性对碳烟燃烧性能的影响. 结果表明,过渡金属的掺杂促使催化剂在低温下提供更多的表面氧和晶格氧,显著降低了碳烟的氧化温度,催化剂于200~400℃释放的活性氧数量对于碳烟燃烧性能提高至关重要; 而结构性助剂金属、碱金属或碱土金属的掺入可提高中温活性氧数量,虽然对碳烟起燃温度无明显改善,但加快了碳烟的燃烧速率.     

介孔分子筛Ti-AlKIT-1的制备、表征与催化性能

分别采用直接(ds)和后合成法(ps)合成含铝的介孔分子筛Al(ds or ps)KIT-1。 以钛酸四丁酯Ti（OEt）4为钛源,将钛嫁接在AlKIT-1表面制备出Ti-AlKIT-1样品。 用傅里叶变换红外光谱、X射线粉末衍射、固体核磁共振(MAS NMR)、固体紫外 可见漫反射光谱（DRS）、能谱(EDS)和N2吸附-脱附对样品进行了表征,并以双氧水氧化环己醇为探针考察了样品的催化活性。 实验结果表明,分子筛Ti-AlKIT-1具有规整的介孔孔道结构,钛进入介孔分子筛骨架而成为四配位的骨架钛,铝的存在形式与样品AlKIT-1的预处理有关,经铵溶液洗涤的Al(ds)KIT-1中没有非骨架铝。 Ti-AlKIT-1在催化双氧水氧化环己醇反应中铝和钛存在明显的协同作用。 样品Ti-Al(ds)KIT-1表现出更高的催化作用,这与其具有较高的比表面积、较大的孔容和较高钛铝比有关,80 ℃反应48 h,重复使用3次后,环己醇的转化率降低至51.3%,仅下降4.31%。     

Investigation of H2S oxidation by oxygen on oxide catalysts in sulfur condensation conditions

H₂S oxidation with oxygen has been studied on three industrial oxide catalysts (Fe−Cr−Zn, Cu−Cr−Al, V−Ti−Al). Thermodynamically possible changes in the composition of the catalysts have been evaluated. Regularities determining deep or partial oxidation of H₂S have been found. Deep oxidation is connected to the presence of active oxygen on the catalyst surface; its removal results in a decrease of activity and increase of the sulfur selectivity. Oscillations caused by periodic adsorption-desorption of sulfur on the catalyst surface have been observed on the most active V−Ti−Al catalysts in oxygen excess.     

Preparation of supported metal catalysts starting from hydrotalcites as the precursors and their improvements by adopting “memory effect”

Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTlcs) can be used as the catalysts as it is since they contain various transition metal cations as the catalytically active species well dispersed on the basic support materials. Moreover, increasing numbers of the applications of HTlcs after the heat treatment have been found since the oxides with very small crystal size, stable to thermal treatments, are obtained after the calcination. The oxides possess interesting properties such as high surface area, basic properties and further form small and thermally stable metal crystallites by reduction. Moreover, the calcined oxides show a unique property, i.e., “memory effect,” which allows the reconstitution of the original hydrotalcite structure. We have developed the catalytic applications of hydrotalcites as it is and moreover the mixed oxides derived from hydrotalcites for various catalytic reactions, i.e., oxidation, dehydrogenation and reforming of hydrocarbons, and even for the reforming of methanol and the CO shift reaction. Aerobic oxidation of alcohols, Baeyer−Villiger oxidation of ketones and O₃ oxidation of oxalic acid have been successfully carried out with the Mg−Al hydrotalcites containing Ni, Fe and Cu, respectively, as the catalysts in liquid phase. In the O₃ oxidation of oxalic acid, the catalytic activity was enhanced by the “memory effect,” i.e., Mg(Cu)–Al hydrotaclite was reconstituted on the surface of Mg(Cu,Al)O periclase particles and oxalic acid was incorporated as anions in the hydrotalcite layer, resulting in an enhanced oxidation of oxalic acid. As the catalysts in the vapor phase reactions, Mg/Fe/Al mixed oxides prepared from Mg–Al(Fe) hydrotalcites and effectively catalyzed the dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene. Supported Ni metal catalysts have been prepared from Mg(Ni)–Al hydrotalcites and successfully used in the steam reforming and the oxidative reforming of methane and propane. Moreover, the Ni catalysts have been improved by combining a trace amount of noble metals by adopting the “memory effect” and used in the production of hydrogen for the PEFC under the daily startup and shutdown operation. Also starting from aurichalcite or hydrotalcite precursor as the precursor, Cu/Zn/Al catalysts with high Cu metal surface area have been prepared and successfully applied in the steam reforming of methanol and dimethyl ether, and moreover in the CO shift reaction.     

Property and structure of various platinum catalysts for low-temperature carbon monoxide oxidations

The oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) has received more attention in the last two to three decades owing to its importance in different fields. To control this CO pollution, catalytic converters have been investigated. Different types of catalysts have been used in a catalytic converter for CO emission control purposes. Platinum (Pt)-based noble metal catalysts show great potential for CO oxidation in catalytic converters with high thermal stability and tailoring flexibility. Pt metal catalysts modified with promoters such as alkali metals and reducible metal oxides have received great attention for their superior catalytic activities in CO oxidation. Temperature, close environment of the catalyst, and chemical composition in the surface layer of the catalyst have a huge effect on the active phase dispersion and O₂ adsorption capacity of the Pt metal catalysts. The main difference in activities of Pt metal catalyst for CO oxidation in O₂ or H₂ atmosphere has found. The addition of supports in Pt metal catalysts has improved their performances and reduced their cost. These improvement strongly depends on the surface structure, morphology, number of active sites, and various Pt-O interactions. Many research articles have already been published in CO oxidation over Pt metal catalysts, but no review article dedicated to CO oxidation is available in the literature.     

Phlogophites intercalated with Al2O3 pillars and modified with transition metals as catalysts of the DeNOx process

Natural phlogophite, pre-treated with acids and intercalated with alumina pillars, was used as catalytic support. Transition metals (Fe, Cu) were deposited on the surface of the modified clay materials by an ion-exchange method. The obtained samples were characterized with respect to structure (XRD), texture (BET), composition (EPMA) and chemical nature of the deposited transition metals species (UV-vis-DRS). The phlogophite based materials have been found to be active and selective catalysts of the DeNOx process. The Fe-containing samples were catalytically active at lower temperatures than the clays modified with copper. A competitive ammonia oxidation by oxygen decreased the effectiveness of the DeNOx process in the high temperature range.     

Catalytic properties of spinel-type complex oxides in oxidation reactions

The catalytic activity of M^IM^II ₂O₃ spinel-type complex oxides (M^I = Cu, Ni, Mn, Zn, Mg, Co, M^II = Co, Cr, Al) in the oxidation of CO and ethylbenzene has been investigated. The Co-containing catalysts were more active than the Cr- and Al-containing catalysts. The nature of the cation influenced the catalytic activity. Higher activities were observed for the catalysts containing two transition elements. A correlation between the catalytic and adsorption properties was established.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 10, pp. 1730–1732, October, 1994.     

Free Aluminylenes: An Emerging Class of Compounds

Aluminylenes (R−Al) are aluminium analogs of carbenes. In contrast to isolable carbenes, aluminylenes are extremely rare species. In the past years, pioneered by Schnöckel, Roesky and Power, a few free aluminylenes and their complexes have been reported. Such compounds have the aluminium atom in the oxidation state +I, which contrasts with classical organoaluminium derivatives that contain the element in the +III oxidation state. Aluminylenes, either in their free state or in the coordination sphere of a Lewis base, are capable of coordinating to transition metals and activating inert chemical bonds. Free aluminylenes are emerging as potent synthetic platforms for unusual aluminium species.     

XRD and TPR Studies of Cu-Al Hydrotalcite Derived Highly Dispersed Mixed Metal Oxides

A series of Cu/Al catalysts, containing different proportions of copper and aluminium, have been prepared by coprecipitation using metal nitrate precursors and Na₂CO₃. The dried precipitate catalyst precursors were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) to show the presence of Cu-Al binary hydrotalcite-like phase. The dried precipitates were calcined at 873 K for 3 h. The calcined catalysts were characterized by XRD and temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) methods to show the presence of unidentified mixed oxides. The results showed that the extent of metal-support interaction increased with copper loading due to the mixed oxides formed from the hydrotalcite-type phase during calcination. High dispersion of the mixed metal oxides was indicated by comparison with similar studies on Cu-Al catalysts, prepared by similar methods, whose precursors showed no hydrotalcite formation.     

Sol–gel preparation of pure and doped TiO2 films for the photocatalytic oxidation of ethanol in air

Stable sols of TiO₂ were synthesized by a non-aqueous sol–gel process using titanium (IV) isopropoxide as precursor. The microstructure, optical and morphological properties of the films obtained by spin-coating from the sol, and annealed at different temperatures, were investigated using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy and ellipsometry. The crystalline structure of the films was characterized by X-ray diffraction and their photocatalytic activity was evaluated for the oxidation of ethanol in air. The influence of the calcination temperature, pre-heat treatment and the number of layers was studied. Simultaneous thermo-gravimetric and differential thermal analysis measurements were carried out to ascertain the thermal decomposition behavior of the precursors. In order to obtain a higher photoresponse in the visible region, a series of vanadium-, niobium- and tantalum-doped TiO₂ catalysts was synthesized by the same sol–gel method. For V doping two different precursors, a vanadium alkoxide and V₂O₅, were used. The effect on the crystallization and photocatalytic activity of the doped TiO₂ films was investigated. Furthermore, to identify the effective composition of the samples, they were characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the surface area of the powders was measured by N₂ adsorption. The 10 wt.% doped catalysts exhibit high photocatalytic activity under visible light and among them the best performance was obtained for the sample containing Ta as dopant. The crystallite sizes are closely related to the photocatalytic activity.     

High-temperature methane oxidation over metallic monolith-supported zeolite catalysts containing Mn,Co, and Pd ions

The high-temperature complete oxidation of methane over metallic monolith-supported zeolite catalysts containing isolated Mn, Co, and Pd ions was studied. The reaction involves heterogeneous and heterogeneous-homogeneous catalytic processes. The ratio between these processes depends on the temperature, feed rate, and the amount of catalyst charged in the reactor. In the heterogeneous catalytic process, the activity of the catalysts supported on the Fe—Cr—Al monolithic alloy decreases in the series Pd > Mn > Co > Fe—Cr—Al monolith and the reaction rate uniformly increases with increasing contact time. In the heterogeneous-homogeneous process, the reaction rate drastically increases and a 100% conversion of methane to CO₂ can be achieved by minor variations of the contact time. In this case, methane oxidation depends not only on the catalyst chemical composition but also on its external surface area and the reaction volume.     

Metal-form catalysts with supported active phase for deep oxidation of hydrocarbons

Catalysts based on metal foams (block porous cellular materials) with supported active phases containing oxides of transition metals have been studied in the process of deep oxidation of n-butane. Foamy metal catalysts have high activity, gas permeability and good mechanical strength.     

Spectroscopic and XRD characterisation of zeolite catalysts active for the oxidative methylation of benzene with methane

The benzene methylation with methane over zeolite catalysts was previously shown in our laboratory to require the presence of oxygen. Thus, a two-step mechanism involving the intermediate formation of methanol by partial oxidation of methane followed by the methylation of benzene with methanol in the second step, was postulated. This paper now reports the results of the characterisation of the zeolite catalysts used for the oxidative benzene methylation reaction in order to provide some information about their composition, structure, properties and their behaviour before and after the reaction. The catalysts were characterised by X-ray diffraction (XRD), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), FT-IR and solid state NMR. XRD results indicate that the crystalline structures of all the ZSM-5 and H-beta catalysts remained unchanged after batch reaction of benzene with methane over the catalysts in agreement with the observation that the catalysts recovered from the reactor could be reused without loss of activity. Elemental analyses and FT-IR data show that as the level of metal ion exchange increases, the Br?nsted acid concentration decreases but this metal ion exchange does not totally remove Br?nsted acidity. FT-IR results further show that only a small amount of acid sites is actually necessary for a catalyst to be active since used catalysts containing highly reduced Br?nsted acidity are found to be reusable without any loss of their activity. 29Si and 27Al magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR together with FT-IR spectra also show that all the active zeolites catalysts contain some extra-framework octahedral aluminium in addition to the normal tetrahedral framework aluminium. The presence of this extra-lattice aluminium does not, however, have any adverse effect on the crystallinity of the catalysts both before and after oxidative benzene methylation reaction. There appears also to be no significant dealumination of the zeolite catalysts during reaction since their catalytic performance was retained after use.     

VOCs and carbonaceous particles removal assisted by NOx on alkali0.15/ZrO2 and Csx–M0.1/ZrO2 catalysts (M = Cu or Co)

The effect of alkali metals on the physicochemical characteristics of zirconium oxide and the properties of alkali metals in the oxidation of toluene and/or carbonaceous particles and/or conversion of nitrogen oxides have been studied. We observed that they had an effect on the structural and textural properties of ZrO₂. These solids were tested first in the oxidation of toluene and carbonaceous particles separately and secondly with both pollutants. Whatever the experiments, the sample Cs_0.15/ZrO₂ was found to be the catalyst the most active. The simultaneous removal of toluene and soot shows that the presence of toluene leads to a decrease in the temperature of the maximum soot oxidation rate, particularly with catalysts impregnated of Cs and Cu. The effect of the Cs/Co ratio on NO_x conversion and toluene oxidation was also studied. It was found that the oxidizing properties of NO_x can increase the conversion of toluene. This phenomenon occurs especially in the presence of catalysts with a low amount of alkali metal. For the oxidation of carbonaceous particles on the samples Cs/ZrO₂ impregnated with transition metals, the best performance is obtained for copper, although a decrease of the ratio Cs/Cu leads to a slower oxidation and a shift to higher temperatures.     

Enhanced methane decomposition over transition metal-based tri-metallic catalysts for the production of COx free hydrogen

In this study, COx-free hydrogen production via methane decomposition was studied over Cu–Zn-promoted tri-metallic Ni–Co–Al catalysts. The catalysts have been prepared by the constant pH co-precipitation method, and the nominal Ni metal loading was fixed at 50 wt % along with other metals at 10 wt% each. The catalyst activity for methane decomposition reaction was examined in a reactor between 400 °C and 700 °C and at atmospheric pressure. Different techniques such as N₂-physisorption, X-ray diffraction, H₂-TPR SEM, TEM, ICP-MS, TGA, and Raman spectroscopy were applied to characterize the catalysts. The relation between the catalyst composition and their catalytic activity has been investigated. The controlled synthesis has resulted in a series of catalysts with a high surface area. Ni–Co–Cu–Zn–Al was the most active and productive catalyst. Various characterizations indicate that the promotional effects of Cu–Zn interaction were the critical factor in catalysts' activity and stability. Ni–Co–Cu–Zn catalyst gave the highest methane conversion of 85% at 700 °C. Zn addition improves the stability of the catalyst by retaining the active metal size during the decomposition reaction. The catalyst was active for 80 h of stability study. The rapid deactivation of the Ni–Co catalyst was due to the sintering of the catalyst at 650 °C. Moreover, carbon species accumulated during the methane decomposition reaction depend on the catalysts' composition. Zn promotes the growth of reasonably long and thin carbon nanotubes, whereas the diameter of carbon nanotubes on unpromoted catalysts was large.     

Preparation of Alumina Supported Palladium Catalysts by Sol-Gel Method

The chemical reactivity of the aluminium-sec-butoxide (ASB) and the palladium acetylacetonate Pd(acac)₂, used as precursors for the preparation of the alumina supported palladium catalysts by sol-gel method was investigated by the spectroscopic study of the precursor mixture during ageing, using FTIR, UV-VIS and ²⁷Al NMR. The obtaind results showed that acetylacetonate ligands were linked to aluminum when the mixture was aged at 40°C. This was proved by the bands observed at 1530 and 1600 cm^–1 in the FTIR spectra, the band obtained at 289 nm in the UV-VIS spectra and the ²⁷Al NMR sharp peak at 3 ppm. Furthermore, in order to avoid the Pd(acac)₂ reduction to metallic palladium by the SB occurring when the mixture is aged for 3 h, an optimum ageing time should be selected. The precursors modification and the preservation of the palladium oxidation state during ageing could be the required conditions to create a bond between palladium and aluminium during the gelation step. This should be the reason of the thermal stability improvement of the alumina supported palladium catalyst prepared by the sol-gel method.     

Catalytic alkylation of phenol with methanol over zinc aluminate

Two samples (A and B) of zinc aluminate spinel were prepared and used as catalysts of phenol methylation. Both catalysts were synthesised at hydrothermal conditions from zinc acetate and from various aluminium precursors: aluminium isopropoxide (catalyst A) or basic aluminium nitrate (catalyst B). Catalyst A was pure ZnAl₂O₄ and B - besides ZnAl₂O4 contained traces of -Al₂O₃. Reactions of phenol alkylation with methanol were carried out in the gas phase under atmospheric pressure in a standard flow reactor with fixed bed. Catalysts indicated different properties in dependence on the aluminium precursor used during preparation. In the presence of catalyst A higher selectivity of ortho-methylation of phenol was obtained. Catalyst B was active both in O-alkylation and C-alkylation.