Structural evolution of calcium-exchanged (NH4)2SiF6-dealuminated Y zeolite after various chemical treatments

The structural evolution of Y zeolite (Si/Al 2.17) weakly dealuminated by hexafluorosilicate (Si/Al 3.13), denoted Y_D, and exchanged with calcium (CaY_D), has been studied after acid–base treatments at 80 °C close to the cation exchange conditions. The stability of the samples was followed by X-ray diffraction and solid-state NMR of ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al; Y_D zeolite was completely destroyed by treatment with acid pH 2.5 and suffered serious degradation on treatment with alkali at pH 11.8. The introduction of calcium improved the stability of the zeolite in acid and base. In acid CaY_D was not destroyed until pH 1. At pH 2, silicon and aluminium were extracted and an amorphous phase was formed. Base treatment at pH 13 did not affect the calcium-exchanged zeolite.     

Synthesis of copper mesostructured silica and functionalization by trimethyl chlorosilane (TMCS)

Mesoporous material of MCM-41 type has been modified by the introduction of aluminium and copper, and then by grafting with trimethyl chlorosilane (TMCS). The influence of these treatments on the mesoporous materials was evaluated by the reaction of phenol degradation in the presence of H₂O₂. The characterization of the materials by several techniques (X-ray diffraction, N2 adsorption, UV and IRTF spectroscopies, etc.) shows that the mesostructural order is retained after the different modifications and that the grafting enhances the catalytic activity in the degradation of phenol.     

Efficient multicomponent synthesis of 2-aminopyridines catalysed by basic mesoporous materials

Research on Chemical Intermediates - An efficient and green procedure for the synthesis of 2-aminopyridines derivatives via four-component reaction of acetophenone, malononitrile, triethoxymethane...     

Acylation of sugar amides over Algerian bentonite and mcm-41 materials

The condensation of sugar with fatty acids in an organic media is possible by chemical amidification without fastidious steps by hydroxyl group protection/deprotection. The acylation of sugar (N-methyl glucamine) with fatty acids (lauric acid, palmitic acid and stearic acid) is catalyzed in the presence of two inorganic and acid solid catalysts: Algerian clay called bentonite of Maghnia and mesoporous material of type (Al–MCM-41). The results obtained with this last solid (i.e. MCM-41) are very encouraging.     

Assessment of the intrinsic interactions of mesoporous silica with carbon dioxide

Three mesoporous silica, SBA-16, SBA-15 and MCM-41, with different structures and porosities were synthesized via a hydrothermal method and their interactions with carbon dioxide (CO₂) were investigated through thermal programmed desorption (TPD) and differential scanning calorimetry. TPD measurements provided precise assessments of the intrinsic affinity towards CO₂, without the influence of moisture. All silica materials were found to exhibit intrinsic affinity towards carbon dioxide, but the surface basicity, expressed in terms of retained CO₂ amount, is markedly influenced by increases in pore size and framework structures. SBA-15 displayed the highest CRC values, explained in terms of larger pore size, lower numbers of acidic out-of plane Si–OH and higher numbers of much less acidic in-plane silanols. These findings provide valuable information for a better understanding of the role of the silica structure in the intrinsic basicity, prior to further modifications for improving the affinity towards CO₂ or merely for catalysis purposes involving CO₂ as reagents, intermediates or products.     

Key factor affecting the basicity of mesoporous silicas MCM-41: effect of surfactant extraction time and Si/Al ratio

Mesoporous silica Si-MCM-41 was prepared by hydrothermal method using TEOS and CTAB as the source of silica and structuring agent, respectively. The surface of the as-synthesized material was treated using HCl/ETOH solvent to remove the CTA surfactant instead of using the calcination. Characterization of the catalysts was performed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), nitrogen sorption at 77 K, scanning and transmission electronic microscopy (SEM, TEM), and thermogravimetric analysis TGA. The catalytic properties of the prepared materials in the condensation of acetophenone with ethyl cyanoacetate were studied. The effects of the catalyst type, Si/Al ratio, reaction kinetics, and reaction temperature were also investigated to find an optimal parameter. The results show that an interesting yield was obtained (about 96%) in a short reaction time; it is found that the yields of products depend not only on the amount of surfactant inside the mesopores but also on the Si/Al ratio. The catalyst reuse shows that this catalyst can be used up to five cycles, and at temperatures higher than 50 °C, the yield of products decreases due to the slight destruction of the catalyst as confirmed by the XRD analysis. Based on the results obtained, a possible mechanism of the condensation reaction of acetophenone was proposed.     

Structural and textural features of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/SAPO-34 nanocomposite prepared by the sol–gel method

This paper focuses on the synthesis of nanocomposite materials, TiO₂/SAPO-34, using the sol–gel method, which involves preparing a mixture between as-synthesized or calcined SAPO-34 zeolite and TiO₂ gel under hydrothermal crystallization and then calcining it at 400 °C for the formation of the TiO₂ anatase phase. The structural and textural features of the obtained materials were determined by various physico-chemical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, nitrogen sorption at 77 K, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and ultraviolet–visible spectrometry. The DRX results showed that calcination at 400 °C of the mixture between the calcined SAPO-34 and TiO₂ gel led to the collapse of the original framework of zeolite, but formed the anatase TiO₂ in a nano-spherical morphology; however, the use of as-synthesized SAPO-34 supports provides a mixture phase between SAPO-34 and TiO₂ anatase after calcination. The photocatalytic properties of the SAPO-34/TiO₂ and TiO₂-type materials were tested for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye. The MB degradation proved to increase as a function of contact time, catalyst mass and the initial concentration of MB.     

Nanostructured layered double hydroxide aerogels with enhanced adsorption properties

Aerogels of layered double hydroxides were prepared by a simple and eco-friendly method involving a quick coprecipitation followed by supercritical CO(2) drying. Such aerogels display high surface areas and enhanced adsorption behavior.     

Comparative Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone on Fe-pillared clays and iron tetrasulfophthalocyanine covalently supported on silica

The Baeyer-Villiger oxidation of cyclohexanone to caprolactone has been investigated at room temperature over AlFe-pillared clays, using oxygen as oxidant in the presence of benzaldehyde. A nearly complete conversion is observed with a selectivity into caprolactone above 80%. The observation of an induction period in the kinetics, of high activity of the non-pillared clay, and the detection of Fe traces in the reaction medium, suggest a process involving homogenous catalysis. The reaction is indeed catalysed in homogeneous phase by a few ppm of Fe. By contrast, iron phthalocyanine covalently supported on silica appears as a true heterogeneous catalyst, giving a selectivity above 95% to caprolactone at 61% conversion.     

Synthesis and characterization of highly ordered mesoporous nanomaterials Al-MCM-41 and Al-SBA-15 from bentonite as efficient catalysts for the production of biodiesel MELA and EELA

Research on Chemical Intermediates - Low-cost Al-MCM-41 and Al-SBA-15 mesoporous materials are successfully synthesized from bentonite as silicon and aluminum sources instead of laboratory reagents...