The effect of calcination on the surface properties of the systems Al2O3-TiO2, SiO2-Al2O3, and SiO2-TiO2 prepared from metal alkoxides

Summary The effect of calcining temperature on the surface properties of the systems Al₂O₃-TiO₂, SiO₂-Al₂O₃, and SiO₂-TiO₂ prepared by co-hydrolysis of the corresponding metal alkoxide mixtures was studied from the crystal structure, the specific surface area, the heat of immersion in water and the surface acidity.Generally, the crystal growth of the systems accelerates with the rise of temperature of calcination. The specific surface area diminishes markedly with the rise of temperature of calcination, while the surface acidity remains almost constant. But the heat of immersion depends on the composition of the systems.

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Zusammenfassung Die Systeme Al₂O₃-TiO₂, SiO₂-Al₂O₃ und SiO₂-TiO₂ wurden durch die Hydrolyse der korrespondierenden Metallalkoxyde hergestellt. Von den Systemen wurden die spezifische Oberfläche, die Kristallstruktur, die Benetzungswärme in Wasser und das Oberflächen-p_H in Abhängigkeit von der Glühtemperatur gemessen.Im allgemeinen wird das Kristallwachstum mit der Erhöhung der Glühtemperatur beschleunigt und die spezifische Oberfläche vermindert. Hingegen ist der Oberflächen-p_H-Wert mit der Erhöhung der Glühtemperatur fast unveränderlich. Aber die Benetzungswärme hängt von der Komposition der Systeme ab.

     

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.     

SiO2-Al2O3 composite oxides with hierarchical pores as solid acid catalysts for tetrahydrofuran polymerization

A series of SiO₂-Al₂O₃ composite oxides with different parameters of porous structure was synthesized via sol-gel process at a systematically varied pH (pH 2, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13), and characterized by transmission electron microscope, N₂ adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray powder diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia and IR spectra of pyridine adsorption. The catalytic performance of SiO₂-Al₂O₃ was investigated in the catalytic polymerization of tetrahydrofuran. All the SiO₂-Al₂O₃ oxides are characterized by similar acidity but different porous properties. In the pH range of 7 to 9, the hierarchical pore system composed of mesopores and macropores is formed. Due to an enhanced accessibility of acid sites and easier diffusion of reacting molecules, the samples containing a hierarchical pore system of the catalysts show the highest yield of polytetrahydrofuran (about 48%) and an improved number-average molecular weight (Mn).     

Study of CuCl2 Supported on SiO2 and Al2O3

The nature and stability of surface species of CuCl₂ supported on α-Al₂O₃, γ-Al₂O₃, and SiO₂ were investigated by using X-ray diffraction techniques and reflectance spectroscopy. No specific chemical interaction of CuCl₂ is observed on an inert α-Al₂O₃ support, as opposed to hydrated carriers as SiO₂ and γ-Al₂O₃. On these supports the coordination sphere of Cu²⁺ consists of surface groups (OH^? or O^? at drying and activation, resp.), H₂O and Cl^?, with the H₂O ligands decreasing in concentration in the process of impregnation, drying and calcination. γ-Al₂O₃ samples, calcined at 400°C, show γ-Cu₂(OH)₃Cl as opposed to CuAl₂O₄ at higher temperatures. The absence of Cu₂(OH)₃Cl on SiO₂-supported samples is related to the acid-base characteristics of the carriers. The various supports can be arranged in the following order of stability of the complexes formed: γ-Al₂O₃ > SiO₂ ? -Al₂O₃.     

Montmorillonite-based porous clay heterostructures (PCHs) intercalated with silica-titania pillars—synthesis and characterization

Porous clay heterostructures (PCHs) were synthesized using natural montmorillonite as a raw material. Apart from pure silica pillars also silica-titania pillars were intercalated into the interlayer space of the parent clay. The detailed studies of the calcination process of the as-prepared PCH samples as well as thermal stability of the pillared structure of these materials were performed. The pillared structure of PCHs intercalated with both silica and silica-titania clusters was found to be thermally stable up to temperatures exceeding 600 °C. It was found that titanium incorporated into the silica pillars was present mainly in the form of separated tetracoordinated cations. For the samples with the higher Ti loading also small contribution of titanium in the form of the polymeric oxide species was detected. Titanium incorporated into the PCH materials significantly increased their surface acidity forming mainly Brønsted acid sites.     

Proton Affinity at the Porous Surface of SiO2-TiO2 Binary Oxides

SiO₂-TiO₂ binary oxides are typically used as solid supports for different applications, from catalysts to optics. Tailoring the pore diameter, pore size distribution, and surface area is of great importance for any of those applications. Tailoring the chemical properties of the porous surface, e.g. in terms of polarity or acidity, is of capital importance as well. Thus, in catalytic applications or in sensing devices, where diffusion of a solute through the matrix is required, the affinity/compatibility of the solute with the matrix porous surface will determine the proper work of the device. Moreover, when the sensor is based on the adsorption of an active organic molecule or biomolecule on the porous surface matrix, the proton concentration at the surface may also modify the behavior of the active molecule. In this work, the proton affinity of the porous surface is tailored by the preparation of number of SiO₂-TiO₂ binary oxides with different SiO₂/TiO₂ weight ratios. Proton affinity is studied through the incorporation of a pH indicator as bromocresol green.     

Spectroscopic characterization of some iron-containing pillared clays

Bentonites, when pillared with Al₂O₃-oxide clusters, can generate materials with BET surface area in the 290–310 m² g⁻¹ range having high cracking activity for gas oil conversion. The high coke make tendency of these catalysts has been attributed to their strong Lewis type acidity.Mössbauer and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy have shown that iron in pillared clays can be found on the clay platelets, between the clay silicate layers or in the clay octahedral layer in substitution for Al. On heating, iron migration occurs. When iron is found near the pillars it can easily catalyze secondary cracking reactions and greatly enhances the already high coke make generation observed during gas oil conversion.     

Propane combustion over supported Pd catalysts

We prepared Pd catalysts supported on various metal oxides, viz. γ-Al₂O₃, α-Al₂O₃, SiO₂–Al₂O₃, SiO₂, CeO₂ and TiO₂ by an incipient wetness method and applied them to propane combustion. Several techniques: N₂ physisorption, inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), CO chemisorption, temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) and temperature-programmed oxidation (TPO) were employed to characterize the catalysts. Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃ showed the least catalytic activity at high temperatures among Pd catalysts supported on irreducible metal oxides, viz. SiO₂, Al₂O₃ and SiO₂–Al₂O₃. Pd/γ-Al₂O₃ was much superior for this reaction to Pd/α-Al₂O₃. The Pd catalyst supported on reducible metal oxides (CeO₂ and TiO₂) with a less specific surface area showed the higher catalytic activity compared with that supported on reducible metal oxides with a higher specific surface area, even though the former had a less Pd dispersion than the latter. In the case of Pd/SiO₂–Al₂O₃, the initially reduced Pd catalyst was superior to the fully oxidized one. The oxidation of metallic Pd occurred in the presence of O₂ with increasing reaction temperature, which resulted in the change in the catalytic activity.     

CoO/SiO2-Al2O3催化剂上苯胺和1,6-己二醇气相高效合成1-苯基氮杂环庚烷

研究了CoO/SiO2-Al2O3催化剂上苯胺和1,6-己二醇气相催化合成1-苯基氮杂环庚烷的反应,并采用N2吸附-脱附、X射线衍射、H2程序升温还原和NH3程序升温脱附技术对催化剂进行表征.结果表明,CoO/SiO2-Al2O3催化剂表现出较高的活性和选择性.当CoO担载量为0.3mmol/g时,催化剂前体在700℃...     

Study on the Superhydrophilicity of the SiO2-TiO2 Thin Films Prepared by Sol-Gel Method at Room Temperature

Nanoscale SiO₂-TiO₂ composite thin films with the thickness of about 100 nm were prepared by sol-gel method at room temperature in air. The chemical states of the elements on the surface and near the surface were measured by XPS. The results showed that the Ti on/near the surface of the thin films existed not only as TiO₂ but also as Ti₂O₃. Part of the TiO₂ was changed to Ti₂O₃ after UV irradiation. The crystalline structure of the TiO₂ in the SiO₂-TiO₂ thin films was anatase with the crystallite size of 14–20 nm. It was found that the thin film prepared at room temperature in air has good superhydrophilic property and has strong adherence to the substrate.     

Effect of the Vanadium Content in V2O5/SiO2 Catalysts on Their Activity and Selectivity in the Partial Oxidation of Methane

The effect of the vanadium content on the catalytic characteristics of samples of V₂O₅/SiO₂, prepared by molecular layering, was investigated. It was shown that in the region of relatively small vanadium contents in the catalyst its surface concentration does not affect the selectivity of the process. The obtained relation between the initial selectivity and the relative reactivity of formaldehyde and the surface density of oxide-vanadium groups in the deposited catalyst is discussed.     

Construction of SiO2-TiO2/g-C3N4 composite photocatalyst for hydrogen production and pollutant degradation: Insight into the effect of SiO2

Using low-cost precipitated silica (SiO₂) as the carrier, a ternary SiO₂-TiO₂/g-C₃N₄ composite photocatalyst was prepared via the sol-gel method associated with a wet-grinding process. The as-prepared composite exhibits photocatalytic hydrogen production and pollutant degradation performance under solar-like irradiation. The effect of SiO₂ carrier on the properties of the heterostructure between TiO₂ and g-C₃N₄ (CN) was systematically studied. It is found that SiO₂ has important effects on promoting the interaction between TiO₂ and CN. The particle size of TiO₂ and CN was obviously reduced during the calcination process due to the effects of SiO₂. Especially, the TiO₂ particles exhibit monodispersed state with particle size below 10 nm (quantum dots), resulting in the improvement of the contact area and the interaction between TiO₂ and CN, and leading to the formation of efficient TiO₂/CN Z-scheme heterostructure in SiO₂-TiO₂/CN. Besides, the introduction of SiO₂ can increase the specific surface area and light absorption of SiO₂-TiO₂/CN, further promoting the photocatalytic reaction. As expected, the optimum SiO₂-TiO₂/CN composite exhibits 12.3, 3.1 and 2.9 times higher photocatalytic hydrogen production rate than that of SiO₂-TiO₂, CN and TiO₂/CN under solar-like irradiation, while the photocatalytic active component in SiO₂-TiO₂/CN is only about 60 wt%. Moreover, the rhodamine B degradation rate of SiO₂-TiO₂/CN is also higher than that of SiO₂-TiO₂, CN and TiO₂/CN.     

The state of dispersed niobia species on γ-Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> and their catalytic performance for condensation of isobutylene and isobutyraldehyde

Catalysts of Nb₂O₅/γ-Al₂O₃ were prepared by aqueous solution impregnation. The state of niobia species on surface of γ-Al₂O₃ is characterized by using the technology of X-ray power diffraction (XRD) and analyzed using the “incorporation model”. The acidity and the nature of acid sites of the catalysts were evaluated by means of Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine. The catalytic activity of Nb₂O₅/γ-Al₂O₃ catalysts was evaluated by a condensation reaction from isobutene and isobutyraldehyde to 2,5-dimethyl-2,4-hexadiene. The results of XRD indicate that the dispersion capacity of niobia on γ-Al₂O₃ is about 0.76 mmol Nb per 100m² γ-Al₂O₃, which is almost identical to the theoretical value (0.75 mmol Nb per 100m² γ-Al₂O₃) calculated by the “incorporation model”. The results of Py-IR and catalytic activity evaluation indicate that the acidity feature is related to the state of dispersed niobia species as well as the loading of niobia onto the surface of γ-Al₂O₃ support.     

Controlled gas adsorption properties of various pillared clays

Microporous pillared clays (PILC) were prepared by the intercalation of montmorillonite with particles of titania (Ti-PILC), zirconia (Zr-PILC), alumina (Al-PILC), iron oxide (Fe-PILC) and mixed lanthania/alumina (LaAl-PILC). Nitrogen adsorption isotherms (77 K) and XRD data provided information on the porosity, surface area, micropore volume and interlayer distance of these samples. The surface area varied between 198 and 266 m²/g for Ti- and Fe-PILC, respectively. The titania pillared clay had also the highest micropore volume (0.142 cc/g) and interlayer spacing (16–20 Å), compared to the Zr-PILC, which had the smallest spacing between the layers (max, 4 Å). Despite this fact, Zr-PILC always showed a high adsorption capacity for gases such as N₂, O₂, Ar or CO₂, due to its high adsorption field in the very small micropores.From gas adsorption experiments on these various PILCs, it became clear that their adsorption properties depend on the pillars in three ways: (i) the pillar height, (ii) the distribution of the pillars between the clay layers and (iii) the nature of the pillaring species.The incorporation of other elements in the pillars leads to specific adsorption sites in the pores. This was demonstrated by the preparation of mixed Fe/Cr and Fe/Zr pillared clays. Compared to the parent Fe-PILC, the incorporation of chromium and zirconium in the iron oxide pillars had a positive influence on the adsorption capacity. Also the modification of a PILC with cations increases both capacity and selectivity for gases. This was confirmed by the increased adsorption of N₂, O₂ and CO₂ at 273 K on a Sr²⁺ exchanged Al-PILC.     

Catalytic wet peroxide oxidation of phenol over pillared clays containing iron or copper species

The catalytic wet oxidation of phenol by hydrogen peroxide in the presence of oxygen is catalysed, at room temperature, by copper or iron homogeneous species at pH 5 or 3.5, respectively. In such conditions phenol mild oxidation is mainly observed, the total phenol oxidation to CO₂ (TOC abatement) not exceeding 20 %. In similar experimental conditions, Fe, Al or Cu, Al pillared clays (FAZA or CAZA) are much more active, the phenol or the TOC conversion being directly related to the iron or copper content. Moreover, in the presence of iron containing pillared clay (FAZA), the TOC abatement can reach 80 % at 70 °C, with only a H₂O₂ stoichiometric excess equal to 1.5. The low iron leaching (less than 0.2 % of the total amount of iron in the catalyst) observed after a standard experiment (4 h) shows that the FAZA catalyst is highly stable in water media and could be used several consecutive times. These properties could result in the iron species stabilization in the interlamellar space of the pillared clays both by bonding with the Al pillars (60 % of the iron species) or as oxide clusters dispersed between the clay layers.     

Surface Structure and Catalytic Performance of CuCl/SiO2-Al2O3 Catalysts for Methanol Oxidative Carbonylation

Aluminum was doped into amorphous silica gel to modify its surface structure. The obtained SiO₂-Al₂O₃ support was used to prepare the CuCl/SiO₂-Al₂O₃ catalyst by solid-state ion exchange, and the catalyst activity for liquid-phase oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate was investigated. The results showed that the prepared SiO₂-Al₂O₃ support kept the amorphous structure of the silica gel. The BET specific surface area of the silica gel was decreased to 200 m²/g, and the surface acid sites (including Brønsted acid sites) were increased. In the CuCl/SiO₂-Al₂O₃ catalyst, CuCl was not only dispersed on surface but also was ion exchanged with surface Brønsted acid sites of the SiO₂-Al₂O₃ support to form Cu⁺ species, which resulted in a decrease in BET specific surface area to 148 m²/g. These two kinds of Cu⁺ species on the catalyst surface were both active centers for the oxidative carbonylation of methanol to dimethyl carbonate. When the catalyst was prepared with Si/Al molar ratio of 5 and was calcined at 500 °C, the selectivity and space-time yield of dimethyl carbonate reached 74% and 1.27 g/(g·h), respectively.     

Reaction paths of the formation and consumption of nitroorganic complex intermediates in the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with propylene on zirconia-pillared clays according to in situ spectroscopic data

It was found that the adsorption and catalytic properties of nanosized ZrO₂ particles as the pillar constituents of ZrO₂-pillared clay and bulk ZrO₂ are essentially different. The interaction of NO with the surface of bulk ZrO₂ resulted in the formation of three types of nitrate complexes. Only two nitrate species were formed on ZrO₂-pillared clay (the monodentate species was absent). Only an acetate complex was formed in the interaction of a mixture of propylene and oxygen with the surface of bulk ZrO₂, whereas an isopropoxide complex was the main propylene activation species on ZrO₂-pillared clay. On the surface of ZrO₂-pillared clay, isopropoxide and nitrate intermediates formed a complex structurally similar to adsorbed dinitropropane. On the surface of bulk ZrO₂, acetate and monodentate nitrate complexes formed a complex structurally similar to adsorbed nitromethane. The dinitropropane complex on ZrO₂-pillared clay was consumed in reactions with surface nitrates. The decomposition reaction of a dinitropropane compound with the formation of acetate complexes and ammonia predominated on the surface containing no nitrate complexes in the absence of NO + O₂ from a gas phase. The found differences in reactant activation species and their thermal stabilities explained differences in the activities of bulk ZrO₂ and nanosized ZrO₂ particles as pillars in pillared clay in the course of the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides with propylene in an excess of oxygen.     

Calorimetric Characterization of Surface Reactivity of Supported Ga2O3 Catalysts

The surface properties of supported gallium oxide catalysts prepared by impregnation of various supports (γ-Al₂O₃, SiO₂, TiO₂, ZrO₂) were investigated by adsorption microcalorimetry, using ammonia and water as probe molecules. In the case of acidic supports (γ-Al₂O₃, ZrO₂, TiO₂), the acidic character of supported gallium catalysts always decreased in comparison with gallium-free supports; on very weakly acidic SiO₂, new acidic centers were created when depositing Ga₂O₃. The addition of gallium oxide decreased the hydrophilic properties of alumina, titania and zirconia, but increased the amount of water adsorbed on silica. The catalytic performances in the selective catalytic reduction of NO by C₂H₄ in excess oxygenwere in the order Ga/Al₂O₃>Ga/TiO₂>Ga/ZrO₂>>Ga/SiO₂. This order is more related to the quality of the dispersion of Ga₂O₃ on the support than to the global acidity of the solids. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia into nitrogen and water vapour over transition metals modified Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript>, TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and ZrO<Subscript>2</Subscript>

Copper or iron supported on commercially available oxides, such as γ-Al₂O₃, TiO₂ (anatase) and monoclinic tetragonal ZrO₂ (mt-ZrO₂) were tested as catalysts for selective catalytic oxidation of ammonia into nitrogen and water vapour (NH₃-SCO) in the low temperature range. Different commercial oxides were used in this study to determine the influence of the specific surface area, acidic nature of the support and crystalline phases as well as of the type of species and aggregation state of transition metals on the catalytic performance in selective ammonia oxidation. Copper modified oxide supports were found to be more active and selective to nitrogen than catalysts impregnated with iron. Activities of both transition metal modified samples decreased in the following order: mt-ZrO₂, TiO₂ (anatase), γ-Al₂O₃. Quantitative total ammonia conversion was achieved with the Cu/ZrO₂ catalytic system at 400°C. Characterisation techniques, e.g. H₂-temperature programmed reduction, UV-VIS-diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, suggest that easily reducible copper oxide species are important in achieving high catalytic performances at low temperatures.     

Comparative Study of the Support Role on the Activity of Copper Species for Nitric Oxide Reduction

In this work three different supports (γ-Al₂O₃, ZSM-5, and SAPO-34) of varying degree of acid sites and textural properties were used to evaluate the influence of support specifics in the Cu/supported nanocatalysts on NO conversion. The nanocatalysts were prepared by homogeneous deposition precipitation (HDP) method and characterized by N₂ pore size distribution, TEM, H₂-TPR for investigation the reducibility of the copper species and acidity measurement by NH₃ adsorption. The Cu/ZSM-5 and Cu/SAPO-34 catalysts were more active for NO conversion than Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst. The characterization and conversion differences in the copper supported on different types of support indicated that these differences arise from the differences in surface area, pore size distribution, and acidity of the supports. The higher SCR-DeNO activity of Cu/ZSM-5 and Cu/SAPO-34 nano-catalysts can be explained by higher surface area and acidity of ZSM-5 and SAPO-34 supports. These catalysts also have larger amount of reducible Cu species compared to Cu/γ-Al₂O₃ which correlates with the structure of the support used. Considering these findings, the NO conversion ability of Cu/supported catalysts has been correlated with support structure and acidity.