Fourier-transform infrared photoacoustic spectroscopy of zeolites

Photoacoustic detection is shown to be very valuable for obtaining infrared-spectroscopic data for samples with characteristics that involve very difficult sampling. The modification reactions on the zeolite mordenite, a highly scattering material, are investigated by this technique and by gas-adsorption experiments. The mechanism of the reactions between borane groups inside the channels of the mordenite and amines at different reaction temperatures is described. At low temperatures, amine- and amino-boranes are formed that polymerize at elevated temperatures if steric hindrance is absent. The implantation of boron-nitrogen compounds inside the channels of the mordenite allow a continuous and controlled variation of the accessibility of the mordenite for gas molecules such as krypton and xenon at 273 K.     

Dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene with nitrous oxide in the presence of mesoporous silica materials modified with transition metal oxides

The novel mesoporous templated silicas (MCM-48, SBA-15, MCF, and MSU) were used as supports for transition metal (Cu, Cr, or Fe) oxides. The catalysts were synthesized using the incipient wetness impregnation, and characterized by low-temperature N2 sorption, DRIFT, photoacoustic IR spectroscopy, UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia. It was shown that the preparation method used results in different distributions and dimensions of the transition metal oxide clusters on the inert support surface. The prepared catalysts were tested in the reaction of oxidative dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene in the presence of nitrous oxide. The iron-containing catalysts showed the highest catalytic activity. The presence of isolated Fe3+ was found to be the most important factor influencing the ethylbenzene conversion. The undesirable effect of the increase in selectivity toward CO2 was observed for the samples with the highest concentrations of acidic surface sites.     

The vibrational analysis of methylarsonic acid,trideuteromethylarsonic acid and their anions

Raman and IR spectra of methylarsonic acid, CH₃AsO₃H₂, trideuteromethylarsonic acid, CD₃AsO₃H₂ and their anions in aqueous solution and the solid state are discussed. Some results of a general valence force field and a Urey-Bradley force field are reported.     

A new strategy towards ultra stable mesoporous titania with nanosized anatase walls

A new and generally applicable synthesis procedure is developed in order to synthesise micelle-templated mesoporous titania built up of nanosized anatase walls with thermal stability up to 600 degrees C.     

Improvement of the hydrothermal stability of SAPO-34

Hydrothermal stability of SAPO-34 is greatly improved by the treatment of the acidic form of the SAPO-34 with NH3.     

Physico-chemical changes taking place in gamma irradiated bovine globulins studied by thermal analysis

Structural transformations induced in gamma and alpha globulins under influence of gamma irradiation using doses of 2.5 and 24 kGy were studied by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and thermogravimetry (TG, DTG). Thermal decomposition of the globulins irradiated in water suspensions occurs at higher temperatures, in comparison to the reference non-irradiated samples. This was related to formation of covalent linkages in the irradiated proteins, apart to chemical changes induced in amino-acids. Essential modification of thermal decomposition was detected already after irradiation with a dose of 2.5 kGy performed for water suspensions. Irradiation of solid native proteins induces decrease in decomposition temperature and gives evidence of proteins degradation.     

Preparation and characterization of vanadium oxide deposited on thermally stable mesoporous titania

Vanadium oxide was deposited on mesoporous titania by the molecular designed dispersion method to investigate the potential properties of these catalysts. Mesoporous titania was synthesized following the evaporation-induced self-assembly (EISA) method with a subsequent treatment with ammonia to increase the thermal stability. As a result, the mesoporous titania obtained shows a high surface area (approximately 350 m2/g) and high stability. Vanadium oxide was deposited by the MDD method using a vanadyl acetylacetonate complex that was transformed into VOx after a controlled calcination in air flow at 300 degrees C. The mesostructure and porosity characteristics of titania remain even until the maximum V-loading was reached (0.4 mmol/g), as it was shown by N2 sorption measurements at -196 degrees C. The catalysts were characterized by chemical analysis, Fourier transform infrared-photoacoustic spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS), UV-vis diffuse reflectance (DR), and Fourier transform Raman spectroscopy. Raman spectra showed isolated V species for the different V-containing catalysts. Furthermore, UV-vis-DR revealed a higher contribution of polymeric species as the V loading increases. The VOx/mesoporous titania catalysts were highly active in the selective catalytic reduction of NOx. A high activity in the NO conversion was observed, which increases with increasing metal loading.     

Development of Composite Adsorbents of Carbon and Intercalated Clay for N2and O2Adsorption: A Preliminary Study

Composite adsorbents of carbon and alumina intercalated montmorillonite were prepared and characterized by adsorption of N₂and O₂at various temperatures. The effects of pyrolysis, temperature, heating rate, subsequent degassing, and doping of cations and anions were investigated. The adsorption capacities of the composite adsorbents developed at higher temperatures (0 and −79°C) are found to be larger than those of normal alumina pillared clays. The experimental results showed that the framework of these adsorbents is made of alumina particles and clay sheets while the pyrolyzed carbon distributes in the space of interlayers and interpillars. The pores between the carbon particles, clay sheets, and alumina pillars are very narrow with very strong adsorption forces, leading to enhanced adsorption capacities at 0 and −79°C. The composite adsorbents exhibit features similar to those of carbonaceous adsorbents. Their pore structures, adsorption capacities, and selectivities to oxygen can be tailored by a controlled degassing procedure. Meanwhile, ions can be doped into the adsorbents to modify their adsorption properties, as usually observed for oxide adsorbents like zeolite and pillared clays. Such flexibility in pore structure tailoring is a potential advantage of the composite adsorbents developed for their adsorption and separation applications.     

The Uses of Polynuclear Metal Complexes to Develop Designed Dispersions of Supported Metal Oxides: Part I. Synthesis and Characterization

One way to design a catalyst begins with a consideration of thereaction mechanism to the desired product so that only the chemistryrequired of that mechanism will be present on the surface. The reactionmechanism will suggest the structure(s) to be developed on the surface whichshould be stabilized against changes during operation. We believe that thisideal may be approached by decorating surfaces or porous powders with amonolayer of metal complexes having the desired structures. These complexesmay be partially decomposed to develop a high dispersion of the supportedmetal oxide.     

Cationic versus Anionic Pillared Layered Substrates: Comparison of the Pillaring Reactions and the Resulting Porosities

Cationic clays and Layered Double Hydroxides (LDHs) are both layeredion exchangers, in which a stable (micro)porosity can be induced via apillaring process. For the cationic clays, the [Zr]-pillaring of hectoritecreates a broad micropore distribution with the maximum at 1.42–2.12nm. The [Al]-equivalent exhibits a narrower distribution, with pores between0.71 and 1.06 nm being dominant. In case of the [Zr]-pillared form a surfacearea of 294 m²/g and a micropore volume of 0.118cm³/g have been obtained. The same reaction on the syntheticlaponite clay reveals a much higher surface area (606 m²/g)and porosity (µPV = 0.336 cm³/g). Forlaponite, extra pores are created in the supermicropore-small mesoporeregion due to the preferential edge-to-face and edge-to-edge stacking of itssmaller sized clay layers.For the pillaring of MgAl- and ZnAl-LDHs with polyoxometalates (POMs),using large organic anions for pre-swelling purposes forms the mostpromising method for the creation of stable pores. It avoids the formationof sidephases, and gives rise to medium(-high) µPVs. Charge density onthe layers forms the key factor, lowering it improves the porositycharacteristics significantly. [Fe(CN)₆]-MgAl-LDHs exhibitmore spectacular properties, with surface areas and µPVs exceedingthose of pillared hectorite. A variation in the charge density via theM ^II/M ^III ratio optimizes theporosity properties. A M ^II/M ^IIIratio of 3.33 results in a SA of 499 m²/g and a µPV of0.177 cc/g. For LDHs, both types of pillars create mainly small micropores,with a diameter smaller than 0.71 nm.