Synthesis and Applications of SAPO-34 Molecular Sieves

Silicoaluminophosphate zeolite (SAPO-34) has been attracting increasing attention due to its excellent form selection and controllability in the chemical industry, as well as being one of the best industrial catalysts for methanol-to-olefin (MTO) reaction conversion. However, as a microporous molecular sieve, SAPO-34 easily generates carbon deposition and rapidly becomes inactivated. Therefore, it is necessary to reduce the crystal size of the zeolite or to introduce secondary macropores into the zeolite crystal to form a hierarchical structure in order to improve the catalytic effect. In this review, the synthesis methods of conventional SAPO-34 molecular sieves, hierarchical SAPO-34 molecular sieves and nanosized SAPO-34 molecular sieves are introduced, and the properties of the synthesized SAPO-34 molecular sieves are described, including the phase, morphology, pore structure, acid source, and catalytic performance, in particular with respect to the synthesis of hierarchical SAPO-34 molecular sieves. We hope that the review can provide guidance to the preparation of the SAPO-34 catalysts, and stimulate the future development of high-performance hierarchical SAPO-34 catalysts to meet the growing demands of the material and chemical industries.     

Complex Pore Structure of Mesoporous Zeolites: Unambiguous TEM Imaging Using Platinum Tracking

The article proposes a new way for visualization of mesopores and quantitative evaluation of the pore structure in zeolite crystals. The approach is based on platinum tracking inside the zeolite material after its incorporation from a gaseous precursor using an electron beam prior to preparing a TEM specimen by the focused ion beam technique. The pores in mesoporous silica and purely microporous zeolite Y were visualized in TEM images in a demonstration of the capabilities of the approach. Finally, platinum tracking was used for studying the pore structure of zeolite Y (CBV 720) containing mesopores both inside the crystal and those emerging at its surface, which were unambiguously distinguished from each other. The obtained sizes of the mesopores and the calculated material porosity are in good agreement with the results obtained by the low-temperature argon sorption isotherms method.     

Graphene Oxide Facilitates Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Well‐Dispersed,Faceted Zeolite Crystals

Zeolites with molecular dimension pores are widely used in petrochemical and fine‐chemical industries. While traditional solvothermal syntheses suffer from environmental, safety, and efficiency issues, the newly developed solvent‐free synthesis is limited by zeolite crystal aggregation. Herein, we report well‐dispersed and faceted silicalite ZSM‐5 zeolite crystals obtained using a solvent‐free synthesis facilitated by graphene oxide (GO). The selective interactions between the GO sheets and different facets, which are confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, result in oriented growth of the ZSM‐5 crystals along the c‐axis. More importantly, the incorporation of GO sheets into the ZSM‐5 crystals leads to the formation of mesopores. Consequently, the faceted ZSM‐5 crystals exhibit hierarchical pore structures. This synthetic method is superior to conventional approaches because of the features of the ZSM‐5 zeolite.     

Graphene Oxide Facilitates Solvent‐Free Synthesis of Well‐Dispersed,Faceted Zeolite Crystals

Zeolites with molecular dimension pores are widely used in petrochemical and fine‐chemical industries. While traditional solvothermal syntheses suffer from environmental, safety, and efficiency issues, the newly developed solvent‐free synthesis is limited by zeolite crystal aggregation. Herein, we report well‐dispersed and faceted silicalite ZSM‐5 zeolite crystals obtained using a solvent‐free synthesis facilitated by graphene oxide (GO). The selective interactions between the GO sheets and different facets, which are confirmed by molecular dynamics simulations, result in oriented growth of the ZSM‐5 crystals along the c‐axis. More importantly, the incorporation of GO sheets into the ZSM‐5 crystals leads to the formation of mesopores. Consequently, the faceted ZSM‐5 crystals exhibit hierarchical pore structures. This synthetic method is superior to conventional approaches because of the features of the ZSM‐5 zeolite.     

Micron-Sized Zeolite Beta Single Crystals Featuring Intracrystal Interconnected Ordered Macro-Meso-Microporosity Displaying Superior Catalytic Performance

Zeolite Beta single crystals with intracrystalline hierarchical porosity at macro-, meso-, and micro-length scales can effectively overcome the diffusion limitations in the conversion of bulky molecules. However, the construction of large zeolite Beta single crystals with such porosity is a challenge. We report herein the synthesis of hierarchically ordered macro-mesoporous single-crystalline zeolite Beta (OMMS-Beta) with a rare micron-scale crystal size by an in situ bottom-up confined zeolite crystallization strategy. The fully interconnected intracrystalline macro-meso-microporous hierarchy and the micron-sized single-crystalline nature of OMMS-Beta lead to improved accessibility to active sites and outstanding (hydro)thermal stability. Higher catalytic performances in gas-phase and liquid-phase acid-catalyzed reactions involving bulky molecules are obtained compared to commercial Beta and nanosized Beta zeolites. The strategy has been extended to the synthesis of other zeolitic materials, including ZSM-5, TS-1, and SAPO-34.     

Visualizing the crystal structure and locating the catalytic activity of micro- and mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite crystals by using in situ optical and fluorescence microscopy

A combination of optical and fluorescence microscopy was used to study the morphology of micro‐ and mesoporous H‐ZSM‐5 zeolite crystals (17×4×4 μm) and to evaluate, in a spatially resolved manner, the effect of mesoporosity, introduced via desilication, on catalytic performance. For this purpose, the oligomerization of various styrene molecules was used as a model reaction, in which the carbocation intermediates formed in the zeolite pores act as reporter molecules. In situ confocal fluorescence measurements after the template removal process showed that the crystals generally consist of three different subunits that have pyramidal boundaries with each other. Examination of these crystals during styrene oligomerization revealed differences in the catalytic activity between the purely microporous and the combined micro‐ and mesoporous crystals. The introduction of intracrystalline mesoporosity limits the formation to dimeric carbocation intermediates and facilitates the transport of styrene molecules inside the zeolite volume. This leads to a more uniform coloration and fluorescence pattern of the crystals. Moreover, the oligomerization of various styrene compounds, which differ in their reactivity, provides a good way of estimating the Brønsted acid strength in a spatially resolved manner, showing a nonhomogeneously distributed Brønsted acidity over the volume of the crystals. More detailed information on the structure of the ZSM‐5 crystals was revealed for mesoporous crystals during the oligomerization of 4‐methoxystyrene. This reaction induced an “explosion” of the crystal leading to the formation of a complex system with at least eight different subunits. Finally, polarized‐light microscopy was used to unravel the pore geometry in these individual building blocks. The observed differences in catalytic behavior between micro‐ and mesoporous ZSM‐5 crystals are strengthened by the microspectroscopic techniques employed, which show that upon desilication the crystal morphology is affected, the product distribution is changed towards less conjugated carbocation intermediates, and that a gradient in Brønsted acid strength appears to be present.     

Tailoring the Structure of Hierarchically Porous Zeolite Beta through Modified Orientated Attachment Growth in a Dry Gel System

The crystallization of zeolite beta in a dry gel system is found to follow the orientated attachment growth route, escorted with a temporal morphology change from bulky gel, through aggregation of the particulate to large zeolitic crystals. Modification of the precrystallized gel with organosilanes can be used to tune the morphology of the ultimate beta. When hexadecyltrimethoxysilane (HTS) is employed to modify precrystallized gel, a resumed secondary growth produces a hybrid mesocrystal of agglomerated nanozeolites. Combustive removal of organics leads to the formation of hierarchically porous zeolite beta of 100 to 160 nm, composed of nanocrystal building units ranging from 20 to 40 nm, with a noticeable micropore volume of 0.19 mL g^?1 and a meso/macropore size between 5 and 80 nm. Conversely, when 1,8‐bis(triethoxysilyl)octane (BTO) is utilized to modify the same precrystallized gel, assemblages of discrete beta nanozeolite of around 35 nm are generated. These assemblages construct a hierarchical zeolite beta with a micropore volume of 0.20 mL g^?1 and auxiliary pores ranging from 5 to 100 nm. Both organosilanes bring about well‐connected hierarchical pore networks. HTS has little effect on the Brønsted/Lewis acidity, whereas BTO causes a substantial reduction of strong Brønsted acid sites. The hierarchical beta zeolite‐supported Pt catalyst exhibits improved catalytic performance for the hydroisomerization of n‐heptane.     

高硅ZSM-5沸石孔道和酸性的协同调控及其催化甲醇制丙烯反应性能

通过碱处理结合铬改性策略实现了对高硅ZSM-5沸石孔道和酸性的协同调控,制备出了一种具有适宜酸性的高硅多级孔沸石催化剂。在碱处理的过程中,通过精细调节合成凝胶组成,在沸石晶体中引入的丰富共生界面,诱导了介孔的形成,从而打破了沸石硅铝比对常规碱处理法的限制。在铬改性的过程中,独特的多级孔结构促进了铬在催化剂中的分散,从而实现了对酸性的深度改性。在甲醇制丙烯催化反应中,制备的催化剂表现出了极佳的催化稳定性以及很高的丙烯和总低碳烯烃选择性。     

多级孔IM-5分子筛的简易制备及其在甲烷芳构化中的催化性能

采用一步水热晶化法、不添加第二模板剂、仅通过控制合成条件,制备了具有多级孔道结构的IM-5-H分子筛。多级孔IM-5-H材料展现了与常规IM-5-C分子筛不同的形貌、结构和酸性质。由于IM-5-H分子筛载体介孔结构的促进作用,钼基Mo-IM-5-H催化剂在甲烷无氧芳构化反应中表现出较高的甲烷转化率（13.1%）、芳烃产率（7.5%）和稳定性。该研究为合成多级孔IM-5材料提供了一种简便的方法,同时扩展了微孔-介孔复合材料在甲烷芳构化反应中的应用。     

酸处理可控制备多级孔SAPO-34及其甲醇制烯烃性能

甲醇制低碳烯烃(MTO)技术既可实施石油替代路线,又能解决低碳烯烃不足的问题,因而具有重要意义.在MTO技术中,SAPO-34分子筛因其高水热稳定性、适宜的微孔结构和酸强度而展现了优异的MTO性能.但SAPO-34分子筛孔道较小,易形成积碳物种而覆盖活性中心,导致分子筛催化剂失活快,反应流程复杂.延长SAPO-34催化剂的单程寿命可减少其再生频率,降低能耗并节约成本.在微孔SAPO-34分子筛中引入介孔或大孔孔道来组成多级孔道结构,可大大促进反应物及产物分子在孔道内的扩散,从而降低积碳速率,延长催化剂寿命.目前,文献中主要采用直接合成路线制备多级孔SAPO-34分子筛,该过程所用的二级模板剂价格较贵,且合成步骤复杂.而采用后处理方法,即先合成SAPO-34分子筛母体,再进行酸碱后处理来制备多级孔SAPO-34分子筛是非常有前景的技术路线.本文首先通过水热合成法制备了立方形貌SAPO-34分子筛,再采用不同种类的酸溶液(硝酸、草酸及丁二酸)对其进行后处理,制备了具有良好相对结晶度的多级孔SAPO-34,考察了酸种类对所得多级孔SAPO-34结构及其MTO性能的影响.研究发现,经硝酸和草酸处理后的样品在特定晶面上出现了蝴蝶状孔道,形成了由微孔、介孔(40–50 nm)和大孔(400–500 nm)组成的多级孔分子筛;其比表面积高达876 m2/g,孔容为0.36 cm3/g,该多级孔道大幅改善了MTO过程中的分子扩散性能.酸后处理过程并没有影响分子筛的化学环境及酸中心强度,却降低了分子筛的强酸中心数量并增加了弱酸中心数量.在多级孔结构及酸中心的协同作用下,其MTO性能得到了大幅度提升:经硝酸和草酸处理后所得多级孔SAPO-34,其MTO寿命(400°C,1 atm,甲醇空速1 h–1)分别由母体的210 min增至360和390 min,低碳烯烃的总选择性由母体的90%提高至92%–94%,并可根据孔道大小调整产物组成,使乙烯选择性在37.4%–51.5%内调变.对比发现,MTO过程中多级孔SAPO-34上的积碳量由母体的15%提高到18%,但积碳速率却由0.071降至0.046 g/min.失活多级孔SAPO-34内的积碳物种主要为较大的分子,其中芘及芘取代物的含量高达73%,而母体SAPO-34中芘及芘取代物的含量则降低至49%.这是因为多级孔SAPO-34内部更大的孔道空间可容纳更多的大分子积碳物种所致.丁二酸处理后的样品未产生多级孔道,却使部分微孔受损且增加了强酸中心数量,导致其更易失活,MTO寿命也降至100 min.选择合适种类的酸溶液进行后处理可控制备多级孔SAPO-34,可大幅改善其MTO性能.     

Effect of Decationation Procedure on the Textural Properties of High-Silica ZSM-5 Zeolite

The texture of the starting high-silica zeolite ZSM-5 and its decationated samples is studied by the low-temperature adsorption method. Mesopores with a diameter of 42 Å are found. Decationation of the zeolite is accompanied by an increase in the specific surface area and pore volume. It is suggested that the textural changes found are due to the removal of admixtures from some pores. A model for the formation of the secondary pore system is proposed. The secondary porosity is suggested to be due to the coordination of the zeolite crystals through the primary particles of aluminum hydroxide located on the surface of the zeolite crystals. The influence of the decationation conditions on the textural characteristics of ZSM-5 is shown.     

氧化铈改性多级孔Hβ分子筛催化对二甲苯与苯乙炔烯基化反应（英文）

烯基芳香化合物是重要的精细化学品及中间体,在医药、染料、农药、香料、新型高分子材料和天然产品等化学工业领域得到广泛应用.传统工艺采用芳香化合物与烯基化合物的反应合成烯基芳香化合物.但是,传统过程存在许多不足:(1)芳环需预活化,如卤代等;(2)伴生氢卤酸等废物,污染环境;(3)原子经济性差.因此,研究烯基芳香化合物的清洁、高原子经济性合成备受关注.采用芳香化合物与炔基化合物的烯基化,可以100%原子经济性地合成烯基芳香化合物,且芳环无需预活化,不产生废弃物.因此,通过芳香化合物与炔的烯基化路线来合成烯基芳香化合物引起了人们的极大兴趣.尤其是固体酸催化烯基化,工艺成本低,清洁无污染,颇具工业前景.然而,固体酸催化烯基化不同于烷基化,烯基阳离子稳定性很差,比碳正离子易于聚合,进而导致催化剂积碳失活.微孔沸石分子筛用于烯基化存在底物适用范围窄、催化效率低、选择性差和炔聚合严重的问题.本研究组开展了硫酸化的镧锆氧化物介孔固体超强酸、担载磷钨酸介孔固体酸催化烯基化.采用前者,合成有序的介孔镧锆氧化物较为困难;而采用后者,催化剂的再生需要大量有机溶剂,会造成环境污染.硅铝分子筛固体酸易于制备,且可以通过简单的焙烧来再生.多级孔分子筛具有微孔分子筛和介孔分子筛的双重优势,用于烯基化反应可望获得良好效果.本文采用碱、酸对商业微孔β沸石分子筛进行处理,通过脱硅、脱铝过程来合成多级孔β分子筛,并进行稀土金属铈改性,从而制备了氧化铈改性的多级孔β分子筛,研究了其催化对二甲苯与苯乙炔的烯基化反应.通过改变碱浓度和酸浓度,对所制备的多级孔β分子筛的织构性质和酸性质进行调控,在优化的条件下获得了良好的烯基化催化性能,得到95.8%的苯乙炔转化率和95.1%的目标产物α-2,5-二甲苯基苯乙烯的选择性,总的烯基化产物(α-和β-烯基芳香化合物)的选择性达到98%.相对于微孔β分子筛,所制备的多级孔β分子筛展示了显著增强的催化活性和稳定性,目标产物选择性也有所提高.显著提高的催化性能归因于多级孔分子筛的传质强化和酸性位的增多.氧化铈的改性使得多级孔β分子筛的弱、中等和强酸中心的数目减少,可能源于减少了表面暴露的B酸位,从而导致了催化稳定性的显著提高.可见,本文所制备的氧化铈改性多级孔β分子筛用于烯基化反应具有一定前景.     

多孔SiC陶瓷微孔道内合成Silicalite-2分子筛膜

榉木经高温热解转化为生物碳模板, 通过液相渗硅反应工艺制备了保持木材微观结构的多孔SiC陶瓷. 在生物形态多孔SiC陶瓷载体上采用原位沉积晶种-二次生长法在其微孔道内壁形成了一层5 μm厚的Silicalite-2分子筛膜. 利用XRD, SEM和BET对复合材料的相组成、微观结构和比表面积进行了表征, 研究了水热晶化温度对原位沉积晶种和二次生长成膜的影响. 经原位沉积(120 ℃, 36 h)晶种涂层后在载体孔道表面形成了一层球形颗粒堆积的连续晶种层, 经170 ℃, 36 h的二次生长, 晶种不断长大并交织生长形成连续致密单层分子筛膜. 在多孔SiC陶瓷微孔道中沿垂直于载体表面方向形成了一层对齐排列的Silicalite-2棒状晶体, 颗粒生长主要沿晶体的最长轴[101]方向进行. Silicalite-2/SiC复合孔结构材料的微孔体积为0.013 cm³/g, BET比表面积为43.2 m²/g, 而相应的分子筛负载量为9.5%.     

Heterogeneity within order in crystals of a porous metal-organic framework

Generally, crystals of synthetic porous materials such as metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) are commonly made up from one kind of repeating pore structure which predominates the whole material. Surprisingly, little is known about how to introduce heterogeneously arranged pores within a crystal of homogeneous pores without losing the crystalline nature of the material. Here, we outline a strategy for producing crystals of MOF-5 in which a system of meso- and macropores either permeates the whole crystal to make sponge-like crystals or is entirely enclosed by a thick crystalline microporous MOF-5 sheath to make pomegranate-like crystals. These new forms of crystals represent a new class of materials in which micro-, meso-, and macroporosity are juxtaposed and are directly linked unique arrangements known to be useful in natural systems but heretofore unknown in synthetic crystals.     

双模板法制备介孔／大孔复合孔结构硅胶独石

采用双模板法,向正硅酸甲酯的水解体系中同时引入聚乙二醇和三嵌段共聚物,成功制备出具有双连续大孔、同时孔壁中分布着有序介孔的复合孔结构硅胶独石材料. 产物的比表面积高达880 m2/g, 大孔孔径为0.2～5 μm, 介孔高度集中地分布在 5 nm. 结合物理吸附、扫描电镜、粉末X射线衍射和透射电镜等表征手段,发现合成条件如原料组成、反应温度和pH值等对反应体系中凝胶化转变和相分离发生的相对速度有重要影响,进而影响产物复合孔结构的生成. 此外,通过对合成条件的优化,一方面增强了无机骨架的强度,另一方面降低了湿凝胶干燥过程中的毛细管压力降,有效缓和了凝胶结构在干燥过程中的开裂和变形,使复合孔结构硅胶独石在厘米尺度内具有良好的整体性能.     

高硅ZSM-5沸石孔道和酸性的协同调控及其催化甲醇制丙烯反应性能

通过碱处理结合铬改性策略实现了对高硅 ZSM-5沸石孔道和酸性的协同调控, 制备出了一种具有适宜酸性的高硅多级孔沸石催化剂。在碱处理的过程中, 通过精细调节合成凝胶组成, 在沸石晶体中引入的丰富共生界面, 诱导了介孔的形成, 从而打破了沸石硅铝比对常规碱处理法的限制。在铬改性的过程中, 独特的多级孔结构促进了铬在催化剂中的分散, 从而实现了对酸性的深度改性。在甲醇制丙烯催化反应中, 制备的催化剂表现出了极佳的催化稳定性以及很高的丙烯和总低碳烯烃选择性。     

Dissolution Behavior and Varied Mesoporosity of Zeolites by NH4F Etching

The mesopores formation in zeolite crystals has long been considered to occur through the stochastic hydrolysis and removal of framework atoms. Here, we investigate the NH₄F etching of representative small, medium, and large pore zeolites and show that the zeolite dissolution behavior, therefore the mesopore formation probability, is dominated by zeolite architecture at both nano- and sub-nano scales. At the nano-scale, the hidden mosaics of zeolite structure predetermine the spatio-temporal dissolution of the framework, hence the size, shape, location, and orientation of the mesopores. At the sub-nano scale, the intrinsic micropore size and connectivity jointly determine the diffusivity of reactant and dissolved products. As a result, the dissolution propensity varies from removing small framework fragments to consuming nanodomains and up to full digestion of the outmost part of zeolite crystals. The new knowledge will lead to new understanding of zeolite dissolution behavior and new adapted strategies for tailoring hierarchical zeolites.     

Catalytic cracking of large molecules over hierarchical zeolites

A hierarchical zeolite catalyst was synthesized by transforming the skeletons of a bimodal pore silica gel into a zeolite through a steam-assisted conversion method, and shows high catalytic activity and a long catalyst lifetime for catalytic cracking of large molecules.     

晶种数量对MOR分子筛上烷基转移反应的影响及反应机理研究

以丝光沸石(MOR)分子筛为催化剂,甲苯与三甲苯烷基转移反应为探针反应,系统考察了晶种数量变化对分子筛物化性能和催化性能的影响。研究表明,合成过程中晶种添加量的不同会显著影响催化剂的酸性、比表面积和孔体积,进而影响其催化剂活性和稳定性。当晶种添加量为8%时,MOR分子筛具有最多的B酸含量、最大的比表面积和孔体积,同时对应的催化剂活性和稳定性也最好。本研究还对甲苯和三甲苯烷基转移反应机理进行了深入研究,结果表明,发生在MOR分子筛上的烷基转移反应通过双分子中间体机理进行,并应用实验手段捕捉到了中间体的存在,证实了双分子中间体机理的合理性,同时推导出可能的反应机理路线图。     

大分子正十六烷的催化裂化

以具有新型多级孔中空薄壳结构的ZSM-5分子筛（Gel-ZSM-5）作为催化剂,正十六烷作为探针分子,研究了催化剂的孔道结构及酸性对大分子催化裂化反应的影响.实验结果表明,该催化剂中的介孔、大孔多级结构非常有利于大分子反应物、中间产物以及结焦物在其表面及内部的快速传输,从而大幅提高催化转化率并延长了催化剂寿命;另外,催化剂多级孔表面的大量酸性位点可以显著提高针对大分子的催化反应性能,并且明显改善了产物的选择性.在较短的反应时间下,这种构效关系体现得更加显著.因此,合理的酸性分布和多级中空薄壳孔道结构将赋予催化剂在大分子催化裂化中具有更好的催化活性、选择性及更长的催化寿命,为设计新型高效催化剂提供了依据.