Application of resin and NH4NO3 as an ion exchange agent for microspherical preparation of nanostructured kaolin-SAPO-34 catalyst for methanol to light olefins reaction in a fluidized bed reactor

Research on Chemical Intermediates - The aim of this research is to investigate the influence of various ion exchange methods in the assembly of nanostructured kaolin-SAPO-34 catalyst using silica...     

High-temperature synthesis of SAPO-34 molecular sieve using a dry gel method

SAPO-34 is one of the main catalysts used in the petrochemical industry. Various effective methods have been developed to synthesize SAPO-34 with optimal size and characteristics for such application. In the present study, SAPO-34 was synthesized using a dry gel method at high temperatures. Morpholine was used as an organic template. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, and gas sorption analysis. The results showed that application of the dry gel method at high temperatures successfully afforded a pure catalyst with high crystallinity. Small particles of less than 500 nm could be obtained within a short reaction time of 30 min.     

Development of a coating technique for the internal structure of polypropylene microfiltration membranes

A novel method of coating hydrophobic polyolefinic microfiltration (MF) membranes to produce a more hydrophilic membrane has been developed. A modified interfacial polymerization technique was used to coat the internal surface of a polypropylene (PP) membrane (about: 1.1 μm pore size, 84% void volume, 84 μm thick). 1,8-octanediamine (selected from several possible diamines) is dried onto the membrane internal surface from methanol and then reacted with a disulfonyl chloride (plus trisulfonyl chloride crosslinking agent) from a mixed solvent system of CHCl₃ and CCl₄, forming a polysulfonamide coating. Key polymerization parameters were identified as time and temperature of polymerization, concentrations of the diamine and the sulfonyl chlorides, and the ratio of CHCl₃ to CCl₄. The coating was uniform and stable. Permeation measurements were performed with various size polystyrene latex spheres and carboxylic modified polystyrene latex spheres in aqueous solution. Coating significantly increased hydrophillicity, and hence flux, and reduced membrane fouling for latex sphere solutions.     

Modelling of the three phase LLV region for ternary hydrocarbon mixtures with the Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation of state

The prediction of the three phase liquid-liquid-vapour (L2L1V) region for the ternary mixtures ethane + propane + eicosane (C2 + C3 + C20) and methane + ethane + eicosane (C1 + C2 + C20) was performed using the Soave-Redlich-Kwong equation of state. A procedure for finding K- and L-points is presented. It is based on the solution of thermodynamic conditions for the K- and L-point using the Newton iteration technique with carefully chosen starting points. The calculations were performed with all binary interaction parameters set to zero and with binary interaction parameters fitted to vapour-liquid equilibrium data of the binary subsystems. In the latter case for all binary subsystems two adjustable parameters with classical mixing rules were used. The results obtained show only qualitative agreement with experimental data for both sets of interaction parameters.     

Influence of aging temperature and Mg/Zr molar ratio on transformation of C2H6 to C2H4 over VOx catalyst supported on Mg–Zr nanocomposite

Research on Chemical Intermediates - To identify active and selective catalysts for oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane in presence of CO2, MgO–ZrO2 supports with varying amounts...     

The beneficial use of ultrasound in synthesis of nanostructured Ce-doped SAPO-34 used in methanol conversion to light olefins

Methanol to olefins process is an interesting route for synthesis of light olefins over nanostructured catalysts. The present research deals with catalyst development by sonochemical method for methanol to olefins reaction with the aim of reaching the most efficient catalyst. The CeSAPO-34 catalyst was prepared via ultrasound assisted hydrothermal method and characterized by XRD, FESEM, PSD, EDX, BET and FTIR techniques. The characteristics and performance of this sample were compared to the catalyst prepared by conventional hydrothermal method. XRD patterns reflected the higher crystallinity of the catalyst synthesized by ultrasound application. In comparison, particles with smaller sizes obtained by applying ultrasonic irradiation. The catalyst obtained using ultrasound had the longer lifetime and sustained desired light olefins at higher values.     

Comparative assessment of the ability of a microwave absorber nanocatalyst in the microwave-assisted biodiesel production process

In this study, a carbon-supported KOH/Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ nanocomposite was fabricated via the microwave combustion method, in which dextrose was used as a carbon source, and its activity in the microwave-assisted transesterification reaction as a microwave absorption material was assessed. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetry, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), field-emission scanning electron microscopy, and energy dispersive X-ray analyses. The results showed that the carbonate and noncarbonate samples had a calcium aluminate (Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃) structure as a support. Different carbon groups were formed during preparation of the carbon-supported KOH/Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ nanocomposite, which improved its surface area and porosity. Although the samples presented similar basicity, the carbonated nanocomposite exhibited twice as much activity as the KOH/Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ nanocatalyst for conversion of canola oil to biodiesel in the microwave-assisted transesterification reaction at 270 W microwave power. The nanocomposite with a larger pore size made active sites easily accessible and exhibited higher catalytic ability where the conversion of 98.8% was obtained under the optimized conditions of 270 W microwave power, methanol/oil molar ratio of 15, 4 wt% of the nanocomposite, and 30 min of reaction time. The carbon-supported nanocatalyst can be reused for at least four times with less reduction in activity. Furthermore, the obtained biodiesel showed that it met the standard values (EN 14214 and ASTM D-6751) with respect to the density, kinematic viscosity at 40 °C, acid number, and flash point.     

Temperature-dependent Raman spectra of Bi2Sn2O7 ceramics

The Bi₂Sn₂O₇ pyrochlore is known to undergo a sequence of structural phase transitions with an increase in temperature. Raman spectroscopy was employed in the investigation of the temperature dependence of the active phonons in the Raman spectrum. We observed 19 broad modes at room temperature, reflecting the low symmetry of the α-phase of Bi₂Sn₂O₇. The modes were discussed in relation to the Raman spectra of other pyrochlore-based oxides. The temperature dependence of the phonons evidences the α → β structural phase transition observed near 127 °C.     

Effect of Unplasticized Poly Vinyl Chloride (UPVC) Molecular Weight and Graft-Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene (g-ABS) Content on Compatibility and Izod Impact Strength of UPVC/g-ABS Blends

In this study three grades of rigid poly vinyl chloride (PVC) having different molar masses were melt blended with graft-acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (g-ABS) in different compositions. The effect of PVC molecular weight and g-ABS composition on the compatibility and Izod impact strength of the blends were investigated. Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) results showed a single glass transition temperature (T_g) for all the blends, representative of miscibility between the PVC phase and the styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN) phase of g-ABS which, in turn, led to compatibility of the PVC/g-ABS blends. It was observed that in all the PVC grades the blends Izod impact strength increased with increasing g-ABS content. Also, at a given composition of g-ABS, by increasing the molecular weight of the PVC phase the impact strength of the blends increased. The morphology of the fracture surfaces from the impact tests were analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs and the results showed that with increasing g-ABS content in the blend, cloudy regions increased and eventually begin to overlap each other, and the deformed material on the fracture surfaces increased. This was attributed to the blend compatibility causing greater energy dissipation in the fracture process.     

Surface properties,adherence, and photocatalytic activity of sol–gel dip-coated TiO2–ZnO films on glass plates

In this study, TiO₂–ZnO nanostructured films prepared from different Ti/water mole ratios were deposited on glass plates by a sol–gel dip-coating method. The structural and surface properties, adherence, and photoactivity of synthesized TiO₂–ZnO coatings in methylene blue degradation were investigated. Among the as-prepared TiO₂–ZnO coatings from sols with different Ti/water mole ratios (1, 0.66, 0.5, and 0.4), the highest sol concentration (Ti/water mole ratio of 1) showed the highest methylene blue photodegradation of almost 80% after 400 min of UV irradiation. X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), and UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectra (DRS) confirmed that at high sol concentrations (Ti/water mole ratios of 1 and 0.66), a mixed phase of anatase and rutile is formed, whereas at a Ti/water mole ratio of 0.5, just pure rutile is formed. In detail, decreasing the sol concentration increases the cracks, degree of agglomeration, and the thickness of coatings. UV-vis DRS studies also confirm that decreasing the sol concentration in synthesized TiO₂–ZnO films leads to a shift in the absorption region of the coating to the UV region. Moreover, decreasing the sol concentration declines the coating adherence onto glass plates. TEM images of the TiO₂–ZnO coating synthesized from sol with a Ti/water mole ratio of 1 revealed the formation of ZnO nanorods around a spherical TiO₂, which indicates the presence of strong interaction between TiO₂ and ZnO nanoparticles. The TiO₂–ZnO coating synthesized from sol with a Ti/water mole ratio of 1 was then evaluated at different methylene blue concentrations, pH values, and number of coatings. After five consecutive runs, no significant decrease in the photodegradation efficiency was observed. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) picture of used coating showed a smooth and stable layer without any detachment. Thermogravimetric analysis (TG) and sonication test confirmed thermal and mechanical stabilities of this coating as well.