Effect of External Acid Site Content in PdHZSM-5 Catalyst on Its Activity and Selectivity in Hydroisomerization of n-Hexane

We have studied the relationship between the external acidity and the catalytic properties of zeolite PdHZSM-5 (Si/Al = 21) in hydroconversion of n-hexane. We have established that decreasing the external H-site content by 5-9 mol/g at 548 K leads to an increase in conversion by 18-19% and a decrease in the selectivity of the catalyst with respect to the isomerization products by 47-70%. We suggest an explanation for this substantial effect of the external H-sites on the activity and selectivity of the catalyst.     

Novel Cu and Cu2In/aluminosilicate type catalysts for the reduction of biomass-derived volatile fatty acids to alcohols

This work relates to the consecutive reduction of short chain carboxylic acids (volatile fatty acids, VFAs) to alcohols as main products. Acetic acid (AA) was used as a reactant to model the VFAs that can be produced by either thermochemical or biological biomass degradation. The amorphised zeolite supported copper catalysts (Cu/SiAl), especially the In-modified CuIn/SiAl catalysts, showed high hydroconversion activity and selectivity for alcohol, ester and aldehyde. Catalysts containing dispersed copper particles in amorphous aluminosilicate were obtained by dehydrating and H₂-reducing Cu-forms of low-silica synthetic zeolites (A, X, P). The activity of the highly destructed Cu-aluminosilicates was found to depend on the structure of the zeolite precursor. The formation of ethyl acetate could be suppressed by adding water to the AA feed and by modifying the catalyst, e.g. by In₂O₃ additive. In the catalysts modified by In₂O₃ additive formation of copper-indium alloy phase (Cu₂In intermetallic compound) was detected resulting in a different selectivity than the one recorded for the Cu/SiAl.      

Thermo-responsive interpenetrating polymer networks composed of AAc/AAm/NMA by radiation grafting

Interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) hydrogels were prepared by grafting of acrylamide (AAm), N-methylol acrylamide (NMA) and acrylic acid (AAc) onto preirradiated polypropylene (PP) membrane. To obtain PP-g-AAc/AAm/NMA IPN hydrogels, at first, AAc were grafted onto preirradiated PP and then AAm were grafted onto the PP-g-AAc membranes. Finally NMA were grafted onto PP-g-AAc/AAm membranes. In the different stages of grafting under different reaction conditions, trapped radicals in the membrane samples were probed by electron spin resonance (ESR). The temperature response behaviors of the IPN hydrogels were studied. Reversible behavior and controlled release of drug tests made reflecting the switching to on state at higher temperatures and to off state at lower temperatures were achieved. By increasing the grafted content of NMA, higher transition temperature of the hydrogel could be attained.     

Heterogeneous catalysts in the alkylation of imidazoles

The reaction of imidazoles with alcohols at 300–400°C was studied in the presence of heterogeneous -Al₂O₃ catalysts and Y zeolites. The major reaction was found to be N-alkylation. This reaction is accompanied by C-alkylation on -Al₂O₃ while the selectivity relative to N-alkylation is close to 100% on zeolite catalysts. The greatest activity with 100% selectivity was found for H zeolite. The alkylation of methanol and ethanol by 2-methylimidazole at 310–320°C gave 1,2-dimethylimidazole in -100% yield and 1-ethyl-2-methylimidazole in 90% yield respectively. The reaction of methanol and imidazole gave 1-methylimidazole in 99% yield. This catalyst displays high stability and capacity for oxidative regeneration.N. D. Zelinskii Institute of Organic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 117913 Moscow. Translated from Khimiya Geterotsiklicheskikh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 624–628, May, 1994. Original article submitted April 20, 1994.     

Thermodynamic properties of LiCl solutions in <Emphasis Type="Italic">N</Emphasis>-methylacetamide at 308.15–328.15 K

Enthalpies of dissolution of crystalline LiCl and enthalpies of dilution of LiCl solutions in N-methylacetamide (NMA) with electrolyte concentrations no greater than 0.32m are measured on an isoperibolic calorimeter at 308.15, 318.15, and 328.5 K. Standard enthalpies of the dissolution of LiCl in NMA are calculated at different temperatures. The thermodynamic properties of the solution and its components are calculated and analyzed in the investigated range of concentrations and temperatures.     

Derivative Enthalpies of Adsorption of p-Xylene and m-xylene onto NaY and BaY Zeolites at 150°C: Contribution to the prediction of adsorption selectivity

The derivative enthalpies of adsorption of m-xylene and p-xylene onto the NaY and BaY zeolites were measured at 150°C, then compared with those obtained at 25°C, and finally used to predict the selectivity of adsorption of xylene mixtures. Significant differences were observed as the temperature was elevated: for the NaY zeolite, the adsorbate-adsorbate interactions became prevalent, in contrast with the BaY zeolite, between zeolite and derivative interactions were stronger. The difference between the adsorption derivative enthalpies of the two xylenes displayed an abrupt variation from 2 molec. ^–1 for both zeolites, the filling from which selectivity towards m-xylene for the NaY zeolite and towards p-xylene for the BaY zeolite appeared. The preferentially adsorbed xylene was closely connected with the sense of this difference, which changed with the zeolite.This revised version was published online in November 2005 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Synthesis of Zeolite L. Tuning Size and Morphology

A convenient synthesis of zeolite L is presented. The size of the crystals can be tuned between 30 and 6000nm, spanning a volume range of seven orders of magnitude. The zeolite L crystals, which typically feature a cylindrical morphology, are synthesized with various aspect ratios ranging from elongated to disc-shaped. The importance of obtaining zeolite crystals with well-defined size and morphology is discussed in view of potential applications of zeolite L containing organic dye molecules as guests.     

Synthesis of Methyl tert-Butyl Ether from tert-Butyl Alcohol and Methanol Using Beta Zeolite Catalysts

MTBE synthesis from tert-butyl alcohol (t-BA) and methanol has been studied using beta zeolites. Increasing the reaction temperature results in an increase of t-BA conversion with concomittant decrease of MTBE selectivity. The t-BA conversion decreases with increasing calcination temperature and alkali metal ion exchange of H zeolite. The catalytic results are correlated with the surface area and the acidity of catalysts.     

Conversion of dimethyl disulfide in the presence of zeolites

Dimethyl disulfide conversion in the presence of zeolites was studied at atmospheric pressure and T = 190–350°C. For all catalysts, the products of the reaction at T = 190°C—methanethiol, dimethyl sulfide, and hydrogen sulfide—result directly from dimethyl disulfide. The relative reaction rate and the dimethyl sulfide selectivity decreases in the order HZSM-5 ≥ CoHZSM-5 > HNaY > NaX, NaY. The methanethiol formation selectivity changes in the reverse order. The highest methanethiol selectivity at T = 190°C is shown by the sodium zeolites; the highest dimethyl sulfide selectivity, by the high-silicz zeolite HZSM-5. Raising the reaction temperature increases the reaction rate and changes the process route: at high temperatures, dimethyl disulfide decomposes to methanethiol, which then condenses to yield dimethyl sulfide and hydrogen sulfide. The observed regularities are explained in terms of the different acidic properties of the zeolite surfaces.     

Adsorption of Nitrogen, Oxygen and Argon on Na-CeX Zeolites

Commercial type X zeolites (Linde 13X) are nitrogen selective. Oxygen is the less abundant component in air; hence oxygen selective sorbents are desired for air separation. Mixed Na-Ce type X zeolites containing different ratios of Ce³⁺/Na⁺ ions are prepared by partial ion exchange of commercial X zeolite. The adsorption isotherms of nitrogen, oxygen and argon are measured and the pure-component selectivity ratios are compared and analyzed against commercial zeolites (13X) for air separation. Oxygen selectivity over nitrogen (1.5) and argon (4.0) are seen for mixed Na-Ce type X zeolite (Si/Al = 1.25; Ce³⁺/Na⁺ < 4.0) from Henry's constant determined from low pressure adsorption measurements. The oxygen and nitrogen isotherms cross over for mixed Na-Ce type X zeolite (Si/Al = 1.25; Ce³⁺/Na⁺ < 4.0), and the pressure at which cross they over increases as Ce³⁺/Na⁺ approaches 1. The oxygen selectivity as claimed in the patent by N.V. Choudary, R.V. Jasra, and S.G.T. Bhat (US Patent no. 6,087,289, 2000) is seen only at very low pressures in the volumetric adsorption measurement and the hydrogen treatment of the Ce-exchanged samples have no effect on the adsorption characteristics.     

Ir nanoclusters confined within hollow MIL-101(Fe) for selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehyde

Although the selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehyde to unsaturated alcohol(UOL) is an extremely important transformation, it is still a great challenge to achieve high selectivity to UOL due to thermodynamic favoring of the C=C hydrogenation over the C=O hydrogenation. Herein, we report that iridium nanoclusters(Ir NCs) confined within hollow MIL-101(Fe) expresses satisfied reaction activity(93.9%) and high selectivity(96.2%) for the hydrogenation of cinnamaldehyde(CAL) to cinnamyl ...     

A non-equilibrium thermodynamics approach to model mass and heat transport for water pervaporation through a zeolite membrane

Pervaporation through zeolite membranes involves local heat effects and combined heat and mass transport. The current state-of-the-art Maxwell–Stefan (M–S) models do not take these effects into account. In this study, transport equations for the coupled heat and mass transport through a zeolite membrane are derived from the framework of non-equilibrium thermodynamics (NET). Moreover, the assumption of equilibrium between the adjacent bulk phases at the feed and permeate sides of the zeolite layer is abandoned in favor of local equilibrium. The equations have been used to model pervaporation of water through a 2 m thick NaA type zeolite membrane, deposited on an asymmetric -alumina support, at a feed temperature of 348 K. Assuming a flux of 10 kg m⁻² h⁻¹(0.15 mol m⁻² s⁻¹), the transport through the zeolite layer, as well as the liquid feed side boundary layer and the support layers is modeled. The activity, fugacity, and temperature profiles are calculated with and without taking coupling effects and surfaces into account. The profiles show distinct differences between the two cases. Including the surface effects leads to discontinuities in the activity and temperature at the membrane interfaces. A significantly higher temperature drop of 1.3 K is calculated across the zeolite, compared to 0.4 K when surface and coupling effects are not accounted for. The calculated decrease in temperature over the zeolite layer is dominated by the surfaces. This could indicate that temperature polarization is, to a large extent, a surface effect. The heat flux induces an extra driving force for mass transport, reducing the activity difference over the membrane. A positive jump in activity is observed at the interfaces, revealing the mass transport across the interfaces is governed by the coupling with the heat flux. The support layers contribute significantly to the total mass transport resistance.     

Isomerization of Xylenes in the Presence of Pt-Containing Catalysts Based on Halloysite Aluminosilicate Nanotubes

Pt-containing catalysts based on halloysite aluminosilicate nanotubes and ZSM-5 zeolite were synthesized. The structure of the materials was confirmed by low-temperature nitrogen adsorption/desorption and by transmission electron microscopy. The activity and selectivity of the synthesized catalysts based on micromesoporous supports in isomerization of the xylene reforming fraction was studied on a flow-through laboratory installation with a fixed catalyst bed in the temperature interval 360–440°С at elevated hydrogen pressure. The influence exerted by the textural characteristics of the support and acidity of the materials on the catalyst activity in isomerization of o- and m-xylenes and of ethylbenzene with the aim of obtaining p-xylene was studied.     

Synthesis of Zeolite L. Tuning Size and Morphology

Summary. A convenient synthesis of zeolite L is presented. The size of the crystals can be tuned between 30 and 6000nm, spanning a volume range of seven orders of magnitude. The zeolite L crystals, which typically feature a cylindrical morphology, are synthesized with various aspect ratios ranging from elongated to disc-shaped. The importance of obtaining zeolite crystals with well-defined size and morphology is discussed in view of potential applications of zeolite L containing organic dye molecules as guests.This revised version was published online in February 2005. In the previous version the issue was not marked as a special issue, and the issue title and the editor was missing     

Sorption characteristics of137Cs onto clay minerals: Effect of mineral structure and ionic strength

The sorption behavior of¹³⁷Cs onto kaolinite, bentonite, illite, and zeolite was studied at different ionic strengths of Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺. A significant effect of ionic strengths on the sorption has been observed. Clay minerals with 21 structure (bentonite, illite) showed much higher sorption than that of 11 structure (kaolinite). Zeolite showed high selectivity for¹³⁷Cs sorption. Sorption behavior of¹³⁷Cs on clay minerals can be explained by their surface charge characteristics originated from mineral structure.     

Effects of adsorption-induced microstructural changes on separation of xylene isomers through MFI-type zeolite membranes

Various factors were found to affect the performance of MFI-type zeolite membranes in separating xylene isomers (p-xylene, PX; o-xylene, OX) by pervaporation. In this work the effect of membrane microstructure, membrane quality, and pervaporation operating conditions were investigated using three membrane microstructures: random, c-oriented, and h,0,h-oriented. Operation under pervaporation conditions means that high loadings of PX will be present in the framework; therefore, the role of PX–framework and PX–OX interactions needs to be taken into consideration. Single component experiments demonstrated that the order of experimentation with OX and PX will affect the ideal selectivity. Multi-component studies showed that membrane performance is highly dependent on the relative concentration of the isomers in the feed; the higher the PX concentration the lower the selectivity observed. However, although high selectivity (18) was observed at low PX concentrations in the feed, it was not stable over time. Similar trends were observed for all membrane microstructures but differences in the selectivity values occurred. The structural deformation caused by high loadings of PX into the silicalite crystal affects each microstructure differently, ultimately leading to differences in performance.     

Mechanism of Coke Influence on the Catalytic Activity of FeZSM-5 in the Reaction of Benzene Oxidation into Phenol

The influence of coke formation in the reaction of benzene oxidation by nitrous oxide into phenol on the catalytic activity and concentration of iron-containing active sites (-sites), which are stabilized in the microporous structure of FeZSM-5 zeolite, is studied. The deactivation by coke is explained by the poisoning of -sites, whose concentration decreases linearly with an increase in the coke content, rather than by the blocking of zeolite pores. The activity per one -site remains unchanged. This fact indicates the absence of diffusion limitations associated with coke formation. The toxicity of coke for the -sites is determined. The coke amount equivalent to 100–120 benzene molecules is shown to result in the deactivation of one active site.     

Feruloyl esterase immobilization in mesoporous silica particles and characterization in hydrolysis and transesterification

Background

Enzymes display high reactivity and selectivity under natural conditions, but may suffer from decreased efficiency in industrial applications. A strategy to address this limitation is to immobilize the enzyme. Mesoporous silica materials offer unique properties as an immobilization support, such as high surface area and tunable pore size.

Results

The performance of a commercially available feruloyl esterase, E-FAERU, immobilized on mesoporous silica by physical adsorption was evaluated for its transesterification ability. We optimized the immobilization conditions by varying the support pore size, the immobilization buffer and its pH. Maximum loading and maximum activity were achieved at different pHs (4.0 and 6.0 respectively). Selectivity, shown by the transesterification/hydrolysis products molar ratio, varied more than 3-fold depending on the reaction buffer used and its pH. Under all conditions studied, hydrolysis was the dominant activity of the enzyme. pH and water content had the greatest influence on the enzyme selectivity and activity. Determined kinetic parameters of the enzyme were obtained and showed that K_m was not affected by the immobilization but k_cat was reduced 10-fold when comparing the free and immobilized enzymes. Thermal and pH stabilities as well as the reusability were investigated. The immobilized biocatalyst retained more than 20% of its activity after ten cycles of transesterification reaction.

Conclusions

These results indicate that this enzyme is more suited for hydrolysis reactions than transesterification despite good reusability. Furthermore, it was found that the immobilization conditions are crucial for optimal enzyme activity as they can alter the enzyme performance.

     

Selective Production of Light Olefins from Catalytic Cracking of <Emphasis Type="Italic">n</Emphasis>-Hexane over OSDA-Free Beta Zeolites

The catalytic cracking of n-hexane for producing light olefins on Beta zeolite synthesized under organic structure-directing agent free conditions (OFB) was carried out as a model reaction of naphtha cracking. The Al-rich H-form OFB (HOFB) catalyst exhibited a short catalytic life and a low selectivity to propylene even at the lower reaction temperature of 773 K, due to its high acid amount. Dealumination of HOFB by ammonium hexafluorosilicate (AHFS) treatment and followed by nitric acid treatment resulted in the increase in the catalytic life and propylene selectivity, regardless of the reaction temperatures ranging from 773 to 923 K. This could be attributed to the lower amount of the acid sites especially the Lewis acid sites, which suppressed the secondary reactions of propylene and butenes and the hydride transfer to form coke. For example, the HOFB-AHFS(0.5 M)-HNO₃(6 h) catalyst showed a very high selectivity of ca. 41 C-% to propylene even at nearly 100 % n-hexane conversion, at the higher reaction temperature of 923 K.     

A turn-on Schiff base fluorescence sensor for zinc ion

A simple Schiff base type fluorescent receptor 1 was prepared and evaluated for its fluorescence response to heavy metal ions. Receptor 1 exhibits an ‘off-on-type’ mode with high selectivity in the presence of Zn²⁺ ion. The selectivity of 1 for Zn²⁺ is the consequence of combined effects of chelation-enhanced fluorescence (CHEF), CN isomerization, and inhibition of photoinduced electron transfer (PET).