The effect of active component distribution in a porous structure of supported catalyst

The catalytic process in supported catalyst with nonuniform distribution of active component among the pores of different size is considered. Some previous as well as new estimates are presented. The limit value of diffusivity in small pores (D _L < 10^?8 cm²/s) is established, at which the distribution can takes an effect. That is possible in the case of capillary condensation, when micro-pores are filled with liquid while macro-pores are filled with gas. Such diffusivity is also observed at configuration or surface diffusion in zeolite channels. Then the distribution may influence the pellet effectivity when the activity of active component inside zeolite crystals is higher than that on its external surface.     

A Radioisotope Flow-Circulation Tracer Method for Determination of Sulfur Uptake and Exchange

A combined radioactive flow-circulation tracer method has been developed and applied to a CoMo/Al₂O₃ catalyst for measurement of sulfur uptakes and of catalyst - gas phase sulfur exchange in the H₂S partial pressure range of 2–47 kPa and the temperature range of 373–673 K. Equilibrium between gas-phase and catalyst sulfur species was rapidly achieved. A substantial part of the sulfur uptake was retained as adsorbed (reversible) sulfur species. The exchange of sulfur increased with increase in temperature up to 573 K and in H₂S partial pressure up to 4 kPa.     

Catalytic reactions accompanied by capillary condensation. 1. Formulation of the problems

Capillary condensation was found to accompany gasphase catalytic reactions, in particular motor fuel hydrotreatment. Reaction conditions appear to differ significantly in large pores (filled with gas) and small ones (filled with liquid). Regarding capillary condensation we explain the strange dependences observed in this study or described in the literature. We have simulated jet fuel dearomatization taking into account capillary condensation as well.     

Catalytically Promoted NOx Sorption by ZrO2-Based Oxides

Metal promoted zirconia-based oxide sorbents, such as Pt–ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ for NO _x have been investigated. To clarify the role of the catalyst component, sorption of NO and NO₂ was compared using the samples with and without Pt. The catalytic oxidation of NO to NO₂ and successively to nitrate ions is an important role for the Pt catalyst. The experimental results indicate that a high-temperature calcination is essential to remove residual Cl from Pt–ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ prepared from H₂PtCl₆ in order to provide more active NO _x sorption sites. Of M–ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ samples investigated, ruthenium as well as Pt demonstrated relatively good performance as a catalyst component in the sorbent. The FT-IR spectra after sorption of NO and NO₂ demonstrated a strong band attributed to stored nitrate ions. The Pt catalyst was more resistant to sulfur poisoning than a base metal catalyst. However, the NO _x sorptive capacities of the Pt–ZrO₂/Al₂O₃ sorbents were expected to be deteriorated in dilute SO₂ as far as observed from FT-IR spectra.     

Catalytic reactions accompanied by capillary condensation 2. Mass transfer inside a pellet

The influence of mass transfer inside a catalyst pellet is analyzed in the case when a catalytic reaction accompanied by capillary condensation takes place. It is shown that gas-liquid interfacial transfer as well as diffusion in the liquid does not limit the process. The overall rate is determined by diffusion in macropores filled with gas, or by the reaction rate in the liquid phase.     

The electrochemistry of gold–platinum alloys

The electrochemical properties of gold, platinum and gold–platinum alloy electrodes under different heat treatment conditions have been studied in 0.5 M H₂SO₄ and 0.5 M NaOH. The electro-oxidation of 0.1 M ethylene glycol in 0.5 M NaOH at these electrodes has also been studied. It was found that all the gold–platinum electrodes are more active for ethylene glycol electro-oxidation than both pure gold and platinum, and that the gold–platinum electrodes in the solid solution condition are more active than the two-phase electrodes. Poisoning of all the electrodes occurs during electrolysis of ethylene glycol at a fixed potential. Potential pulsing is successful in removing the poisoning species formed at the pure gold and pure platinum electrodes. High apparent current densities are found during the first few cycles at the Au–Pt alloy electrodes. These high current densities are also associated with more severe poisoning – than at both pure gold and platinum – and longer cleaning cycles are needed to remove the poisons at these electrodes.     

Reaktionshemmender Einflu? von Schwefel auf die Aufkohlung von Nickel in Methan-Wasserstoff-Gemischen

Summary The carburization of nickel in CH₄-H₂ and CH₄-H₂S-H₂ gas mixtures was studied in a flow apparatus at 1060–1280 K applying the resistance-relaxation technique. The reaction of nickel with CH₄ is found to be thermally activated with an activation energy of 128 kJ/mol. The ratecontrolling step is the separation of the first hydrogen atom from the CH₄-molecules impinging on the surface. Small H₂S-amounts, resulting in PH₂S/PH₂-ratios between 8 × 10^–9 and 9 × 10^–5 decrease the initial carburization rate by a factor of up to 100. The kinetic data are interpreted in terms of poisoning of active surface sites by adsorbed sulfur. From this analysis adsorption isotherms for sulfur are derived.     

EPR study of the mobility of paramagnetic species on the surface and in the bulk of solids

The temperature dependence of EPR spectra provides information on the mobility of paramagnetic species at the gas (liquid)/solid interface and in the bulk of solids. Changes in the environment of molecules on solid surfaces caused by their motion occurring upon thermal treatment at various temperatures are observed. Superoxide radical can migrate from Co(III) to Mg(II) surface sites of the CoO–MgO solid solutions. In aqueous solutions transition metal ions coordinate water molecules, forming aquacomplexes which are usually free to tumble within the liquid medium. Their mobility is, however, strongly modified in the vicinity of the solid surface or inside the narrow pores. In solids the migration of paramagnetic species from the surface into the bulk is controlled by the temperature of thermal treatment. In the case of V₂O₅–ZrO₂ catalyst this process is strongly influenced by the phase transitions occurring in the solid matrix and by the presence of alkali metals.     

Estimation of hydrogen bond energy in n-alkanols from the gas chromatography data

The retention factors of C1—C9 n-alkanols on a capillary column with the SE-30 nonpolar phase were determined for temperatures between 320 and 400 K. From the temperature dependence of the free energy change, variations in the enthalpy of sorption of n-alkanols on the SE-30 polymethylsiloxane phase were calculated. The difference between the enthalpies of condensation and sorption was used to estimate the contribution of hydrogen bonding to self-association of pure liquid alcohols. The calculated energies of hydrogen bonds in liquid n-alkanols are in good agreement with the published data.     

Interactions of copper tetra-tert-butylphthalocyanine with nitrogen- and sulfur-containing compounds in solutions

Interactions of ammonia, aliphatic amines, hydrogen sulfide, and sulfur dioxide with copper tetra-tert-butylphthalocyanine (CuPc) in squalane were studied by spectrophotometry and gas liquid chromatography in the CuPc concentration range of 1·10^–3—5·10^–2 mol L^–1. The sorption properties of the CuPc—squalane stationary liquid phases (SLPs) are governed by the physicochemical nature of the CuPc nanoaggregates in solution. The -type nanoaggregates exhibit particularly high activity to hydrogen sulfide; the activities to primary and secondary amines are also high.     

Nanostructured platinum as an electrocatalyst for the electrooxidation of formic acid

Nanostructured platinum prepared by the chemical reduction of hexachloroplatinic acid dissolved in aqueous domains of the liquid crystalline phases of oligoethylene oxide surfactants, was examined as an electrocatalyst for the electrooxidation of formic acid. The electrocatalytic properties of the catalyst combining highly specific surface areas and a periodic mesoporous nanostructure were accessed in sulfuric acid solution containing 0.5 mol dm⁻³ formic acid using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry. The electrocatalytic activity of the material at 60 °C, is characterised by a mass activity of 8.6 A g⁻¹ and a specific surface area activity of 26 μA cm⁻² at 0.376 V (vs. RHE). The resistance to CO poisoning was found to depend upon electrode potential. At hydrogen adsorption potentials, the material is easily poisoned, while the material shows high resistance to CO poisoning at potentials positive of the hydrogen region. These facts suggest that the decomposition of HCOOH on the mesoporous platinum is likely to proceed through a dual-path mechanism and the high surface area material is a potential electocatalyst towards the electrooxidation of small organic molecules.     

Sulfide ion electrooxidation catalysed by cobalt phthalocyanine microcrystals

Electrooxidation of sulfide ion catalysed by microcrystals of cobalt phthalocyanine was investigated by cyclic voltammetry in 0.5M KNO₃ at pH 9.22. Traces of catalyst were immobilized at the surface of a paraffin-impregnated graphite electrode by the mechanical transfer of its powder. The electro-oxidation of HS^– proceeds in two irreversible steps, with the first peak between 0 V and –0.12 V and the second at 0.17 V. The first step is second order in HS^– and its product is the adsorbed disulfide, which may further dissociate to give adsorbed sulfur atoms. The reduction of sulfur occurs at –0.1 V.     

Effect of metals on the catalytic activity of sulfated zirconia for light naphtha isomerization

We studied on the function of the metal in the sulfated zirconia(SO₄^2–/ZrO₂) catalyst for the isomerization reaction of light paraffins. The addition of Pt to the SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ carrier could keep the high catalytic activity. The improvement in this isomerization activity is because Pt promotes removal of the coke precursor deposited on the catalyst surface. Though this catalytic function was observed in other transition metals, such as Pd, Ru, Ni, Rh and W, Pt exhibited the highest effect among them. It was further found that the Pd/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst possessed a catalytic function for desulfurization of sulfur-containing light naphtha in addition to the skeletal isomerization. The sulfur tolerance of catalyst depended on the method of adding Pd, and the catalyst prepared by impregnation of the SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ with an aqueous solution of Pd exhibited the highest sulfur tolerance.Further, we investigated the improvement in sulfur tolerance of the Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst by impregnation of Pd. The results of EPMA analysis indicated that this catalyst was a hybrid-type one (Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Pd/Al₂O₃) in which Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles and Pd/Al₂O₃ particles adjoined closely. This hybrid catalyst possessed a very high sulfur tolerance to the raw light naphtha that was obtained from the atmospheric distillation apparatus, although this light naphtha contained much sulfur. We assume that such a high sulfur tolerance in the hybrid catalyst is brought about by the isomerization function of Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles and the hydrodesulfurization function of Pd/Al₂O₃ particles. Besides, since the hybrid catalyst also provides high catalytic activity in the isomerization of HDS light naphtha, we suggest that the Pd/Al₂O₃ particles supply atomic hydrogen to the Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles by homolytic dissociation of gaseous hydrogen and also enhance the sulfur tolerance of Pt/SO₄^2–/ZrO₂ particles. Finally, we also propose the most suitable location of Pd and Pt in the metal-supported SO₄^2–/ZrO₂–Al₂O₃ catalyst.     

Structure of a Platinum–Alumina Catalyst Prepared from the Carbonyl Cluster H2[Pt3(CO)6]5

The state of a platinum carbonyl cluster in an initial aqueous acetone solution and its transformations on the surface of aluminum oxide in the course of catalyst preparation were studied by EXAFS spectroscopy. It was found that water enters the polynuclear framework of the dissolved cluster (the Pt–O distance is 2.55 Å, where O is the oxygen atom of water). Structural changes in the supported cluster in the course of catalyst preparation exhibited a strong interaction of platinum with alumina (the Pt–O distance is 1.92–1.95 Å), beginning at the step of H₂[Pt₃(CO)₆]₅ adsorption. This interaction was retained upon the subsequent high-temperature treatments of the catalyst. The structures of samples prepared from platinum carbonyl and chloroplatinic acid were significantly different. In the former case, a surface prototype was formed from the initial cluster; in the latter case, the sample consisted of platinum metal clusters of a considerable size.     

Thermodynamic behavior of adsorption systems with porous adsorbents along the curves describing equilibrium between bulk phases of an adsorptive

The thermodynamic aspects of adsorption equilibrium in systems with crystalline, liquid, and dense gas phases have been considered. The heats of phase transition and corresponding directions of mass transfer from the adsorbed phase into crystalline and liquid phases at different temperatures have been determined. The general equilibrium diagram in the coordinates Inp-T ^–1 has been given with indication of the equilibrium lines of three-phase systems and characteristic points on the isosteres of adsorption,viz., the Gurvitsch and quasicritical points.Deceased.Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 8, pp. 1480–1485, August, 1995.     

XAFS characterization of supported PdCl2?CuCl2 catalysts for CO oxidation

A heterogenized Wacker catalyst system in which pores of a high surface area alumina were filled with an aqueous solution of PdCl₂–CuCl₂ was active for the oxidation of CO near room temperature. The structure of thecatalyst was studied by XRD and XAFS. The active phase of Pd was a molecular Pd species whose structure was similar to PdCl₂, probably modified by a carbonyl ligand. The active phase of copper was found to be solid Cu₂Cl(OH)₃ particles. The presence of Cu was essential to keep the Pd in the Pd(II) state during the reaction.     

Friedel–Crafts Acylation and Related Reactions Catalyzed by Heteropoly Acids

The Friedel–Crafts acylation of anisole (AN) with acetic anhydride (AA) and the Fries rearrangement of phenyl acetate in the liquid phase catalyzed by bulk and silica-supported heteropoly acids (HPA), mainly H₃PW₁₂O₄₀ (PW), have been studied. In anisole acylation, PW exhibits very high activity, yielding up to 98% para and 2–4% ortho isomer of methoxyacetophenone (MOAP) at 90-110°C and an AN/AA molar ratio of 10–20. The reaction appears to be heterogeneously catalyzed; no contribution of homogeneous catalysis by HPA was observed. PW is almost 100 times more active than the zeolite H-Beta, which is in agreement with the higher acid strength of HPA. The PW catalyst is reusable, although gradual decline of activity was observed due to the coking of the catalyst. The acylation is inhibited by the product because of adsorption of MOAP on the catalyst surface. In contrast to anisole, the acylation of toluene with HPA is far less efficient than that with H-Beta. Evidence is provided that the activity of HPA in toluene acylation is inhibited by preferential adsorption of acetic anhydride on the catalyst. It is demonstrated that PW is a very efficient and reusable catalyst for the Fries rearrangement of phenyl acetate in homogeneous or heterogeneous liquid-phase systems at 100–150°C.     

Reactions of platinum(II) complexes with sulfur- and histidine-containing peptides: a model for selective platination of peptides and proteins

The reactions between two monofunctional platinum complexes [Pt(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ (Me₄dien = 1,1,7,7-tetramethyl-diethylenetriamine) and [Pt(Et₄dien)Cl]⁺ (Et₄dien = 1,1,7,7-tetraethyldiethylenetriamine) and the peptides, N-acetylated L-methionyl-L-histidine (MeCO–Met–His) and glutathione (GSH), have been investigated by ¹H-n.m.r. spectroscopy and u.v.–vis. spectrophotometry. The reactions of the platinum(II) complexes with MeCO–Met–His were carried out at room temperature and at pH 3.0 and 7.0, whereas with GSH the reactions were studied only at pH 3.0. No binding of these two platinum complexes to the sulfur atom of methionine or to nitrogen atoms of histidine residue of MeCO–Met–His was observed during the first 24 h. When the reaction was followed further, after 24 h very slow binding of [Pt(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ to the N3 nitrogen atom of imidazole was observed. Both platinum complexes react with the sulfur atom of the cysteine residue in GSH. Kinetic data show that GSH reacts twice as fast with [Pt(Me₄dien)Cl]⁺ than with [Pt(Et₄dien)Cl]⁺. Our findings indicate that sterically crowded platinum(II) complexes are only capable of reacting with the sulfhydryl group of the cysteine residue. This influences the design of new platinum(II) complexes for selective covalent modification of peptides and proteins.     

Cu?Ti?O catalyst for complex purification of gases

Cu–Ti–O catalysts activity in the reactions of complete oxidation of CO and C₄H₁₀, selective catalytic reduction of NO by ammonia, SO₂ oxidation to SO₃, as well as the catalyst resistance to sulfur poisoning were studied. We suggest these catalysts for the combined removal of NO, CO and toxic organics from flue gases.     

Determination of the regime in the reverse wilson chamber at critical supersaturation measurements

The pressure in the Reverse Wilson Chamber (RWC) was directly measured at different rates of compression of the gas mixture. It was shown that at compression time in the range from 0.06 to 0.3 s an intermediate, between adiabatic and isothermal, process took place in the chamber. To obtain the relative pressure increase P _m /P _at from the values of the relative gas compression V/V, a calibration of the experimental set-up was carried out. The calibration showed that the values of critical supersaturationSc for water condensation on hexadecane, estimated for intermediate regime of the gas compression, were reduced with respect to the values calculated when the adiabatic regime was assumed. This fact confirmed the conclusions made earlier [1–3] that the classical theory was not applicable in this case of heterogeneous phase formation and that the line tension < 0 should be taken into account. Moreover, in an atmosphere of very pure argon (instead of room air [1–3]) the critical supersaturation turned out to be independent of the initial state of undersaturationS _o . The more accurate values obtained for condensation of water on hexadecane were: lnS _c =0.204 (instead of the maximum value obtained earlier: lnS _c =0.26) and=–1.9×10^–5 dyne (instead of=–1.5×10^–5 dyne).