Mechanism of heterogeneous mercury oxidation by HCl on V2O5(001) surface

The selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system for NO_X removal in coal-fired power plants has a promoting effect on the oxidation and removal of elemental mercury. In this study, basic mechanism of mercury oxidation by V₂O₅-based SCR catalyst is investigated via density functional theory method and the periodic slab models. Calculations are conducted to determine the adsorption energies and geometries of Hg⁰, HgCl, HgCl₂ and HCl on V₂O₅(001) surface, and to reveal the energy profile of oxidation reaction and the structures of relative transition states and intermediates. The results indicate that HCl can significantly promote Hg⁰ oxidation on V₂O₅(001) surface, by forming an intermediate HgCl-surface which is important for Hg⁰ oxidation. The Hg⁰ oxidation goes through Hg⁰ → HgCl → HgCl₂, and the two stages of the reaction follow Eley–Rideal mechanism and Langmuir-Hinshelwood mechanism, respectively. The formation of HgCl₂ is the rate-determining step due to its high energy barrier. Three detailed reaction pathways are obtained, and the related energy profiles and structures are analyzed in detail. The Hg⁰ oxidation reaction can take place through all three pathways even if differences exist in each other, while pathways I and II have relatively low energy barriers.     

Reactivity of monolayer V2O5 films on TiO2(1 1 0) produced via the oxidation of vapor-deposited vanadium

The growth, and reactivity of monolayer V₂O₅ films supported on TiO₂(1 1 0) produced via the oxidation of vapor-deposited vanadium were studied using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and temperature programmed desorption (TPD). Oxidation of vapor-deposited vanadium in 10⁻⁷ Torr of O₂ at 600 K produced vanadia films that contained primarily V³⁺, while oxidation in 10⁻³ Torr at 400 K produced films that contained primarily V⁵⁺. The reactivity of the supported vanadia layers for the oxidation of methanol to formaldehyde was studied using TPD. The activity for this reaction was found to be a function of the oxidation state of the vanadium cations in the film.     

Simultaneous removal of NO and Hg0 from flue gas over MnSmCo/Ti catalyst at low temperature

The MnSmCo/Ti catalyst was designed for the simultaneous removal of NO and Hg⁰ at low temperature. The MnSmCo/Ti catalyst exhibited 80% NO conversion, almost 100% N₂ selectivity and 100% Hg⁰ removal in the absence of HCl within the temperature range of 150–250 °C with a gas hourly space velocity of 100,000 h^?1. The influence of flue gas components on Hg⁰ oxidation was investigated and the NO and O₂ are mainly responsible for Hg⁰ oxidation. Hg balance analysis revealed that the Hg⁰ removal was achieved through chemisorption and catalytic oxidation. Furthermore, the Hg⁰ oxidation mechanism was explored using transient reaction along with temperature-programmed desorption of mercury and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Hg⁰ oxidation proceeds through Mars–Maessen mechanism in which adsorbed Hg⁰ is bound to MnO_x to form weakly bonded HgMnO_x+1 species and follows Langmuir?Hinshelwood mechanism, where adsorbed Hg⁰ reacts with active NO₂ to generate HgO.     

Heterogeneous reaction mechanism of elemental mercury oxidation by oxygen species over MnO2 catalyst

MnO₂-based catalysts have attracted great attention in the field of elemental mercury (Hg⁰) catalytic oxidation because of their superior catalytic performance and wide temperature window. Quantum chemistry calculations based on density functional theory (DFT) combined with periodic slab models were carried out to investigate the heterogeneous mechanism of Hg⁰ oxidation by oxygen species (gas-phase O₂, chemisorbed oxygen, and lattice oxygen) on MnO₂ surface. The results indicate that Hg⁰ and HgO are chemically adsorbed on MnO₂ surface with the adsorption energies of ?69.50 and ?226.48?kJ/mol, respectively. The adsorption of O₂ on MnO₂ surface belongs to chemisorption. O₂ can decompose on MnO₂ surface with an energy barrier of 97.46?kJ/mol to produce two atomic adsorbed oxygen. The perpendicular adsorbed O₂ and dissociative adsorbed O₂ are more favorable for Hg⁰ catalytic oxidation than lattice oxygen, and perpendicular adsorbed O₂ is the most active oxygen for Hg⁰ oxidation. The reaction pathway of Hg⁰ oxidation by perpendicular adsorbed O₂ includes three reaction steps: Hg⁰?→?Hg(ads)?→?HgO(ads)?→?HgO. The third step (HgO(ads)?→?HgO) is endothermic by 168.17?kJ/mol with an energy barrier of 179.48?kJ/mol, and it is the rate-limiting step of the whole Hg⁰ oxidation reaction.     

Promotion of surface SOx on the selective catalytic reduction of NO by hydrocarbons over Ag/Al2O3

The promotion of sulfur oxides on the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by hydrocarbons in the presence of a low concentration of sulfur oxides over Ag/Al₂O₃ has been investigated by a flow reaction test and in situ infrared spectroscopy. When the C₃H₆ (or C₁₀H₂₂) + NO + O₂ feed-flow reaction was tested, maximum NO reduction was below 30% over fresh Ag/Al₂O₃. After the addition of SO₂ to the feed flow, conversion increased slightly. Conversion increased further after SO₂ was cut-off from the feed flow. This demonstrated that the increase in NO reduction activity of the catalyst was related to SO_x adsorbed on the catalyst. SO_x adsorbed on the catalytic surface (1375 cm⁻¹) was detected by IR spectroscopy and was stable within the temperature range. NCO species, as an intermediate in NO reduction, on SO_x-adsorbed Ag/Al₂O₃ in a C₃H₆ + NO + O₂ feed flow was observed in in situ IR spectra during the elevation of the reaction temperature from 473 to 673 K, while it was only observed at 673 K on fresh Ag/Al₂O₃ under the same experimental conditions. We suggest that SO_x in low concentrations depressed the combustion of reductants by contaminating hydrocarbon combustion active sites on the catalyst, resulting in an increase in NO reduction efficiency of the reductants.     

A Modified Technique for the Preparation of SO2 from Sulphates and Sulphides for Sulphur Isotope Analyses

Abstract

A modified technique for the conversion of sulphates and sulphides to SO₂ with the mixture of V₂O₅—SiO₂ for sulphur isotopic analyses is described. This technique is more suitable for routine analysis of large number of samples. Modification of the reaction vessel and using manifold inlet system allows to analyse up to 24 samples every day. The modified technique assures the complete yield of SO₂, consistent oxygen isotope composition of the SO₂ gas and reproducibility of δ³⁴S measurements being within 0.10‰. It is observed, however, oxygen in SO₂ produced from sulphides differs in δ¹⁸O with respect to that produced from sulphates.     

A periodic model for the V2O5-TiO2 (anatase) catalyst. Stability of dimeric species

We present periodic DFT calculations to study the structure of the V₂O₅-TiO₂ (anatase) catalyst. Linear and cyclic dimeric V₂O₅ species represent the active phase. The support TiO₂ (anatase) is represented for the perfect (1 0 0) and (0 0 1) surfaces. The maximum interaction between the active phase and the support is favored, and low coverage is assumed. The most stable models allow the compensation of the surface dangling bonds, and can be understood as a continuation of the bulk anatase structure. The more suitable models for studying reactivity possess uncoordinated atoms available for reactivity, such as terminal oxygen atoms in V₂O₅. Relaxation plays an important role in the adsorption systems, and cannot be discarded when modeling the V₂O₅-anatase catalyst.     

The role of co-adsorbed O2 on the catalytic reduction of NO with C2H5OH on the surface of Pt(3 3 2)

The influence of pre-dosed O₂ on the catalytic reduction of NO with ¹³C₂H₅OH on the surface of stepped Pt(3 3 2) was investigated using Fourier transform infra red reflection-absorption spectroscopy (FTIR-RAS) and thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). We show that the oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH with O₂ is a very effective reaction, occurring at 150 K and giving rise to acetate. The presence of NO does not lead to any evident oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH irrespective of the annealing temperature. For the case of O₂ + ¹³C₂H₅OH + NO co-adlayers, oxidation of ¹³C₂H₅OH also takes place at 150 K. However, no new surface species that are supposed to be an intermediate for the production of N₂ are detected.The influence of O₂ on the production and desorption of N₂ is intimately related to both O₂ and ¹³C₂H₅OH coverage. The presence of pre-dosed O₂ does not greatly promote N₂ desorption. In fact, N₂ desorption is suppressed quantitatively with increasing O₂ coverage, after which unreacted, or left-over O atoms appear and remain on steps. It is concluded that the presence of pre-dosed O₂ does not play a role of activating reactants in the catalytic reduction of NO with ¹³C₂H₅OH on the surface of Pt(3 3 2).     

A simple statistical model for V2O5 catalysis

In this work we propose a model to describe the selective oxidation of hydrocarbons at the surface of the V₂O₅ catalyst. The main ingredients of the model are the concentration of vanadium active sites, the surface and bulk diffusion rates of oxygen vacancies and the probability rate of a hydrocarbon reaction. The reactions take place at the free V₂O₅ (0 1 0) surface, and the diffusion of vacancies occur along the [0 1 0] (bulk) and [0 0 1] (surface) directions. The coupling between V₂O₅ and a given metal oxide support determines the concentration of the active vanadium sites, where the reactions can occur. Only the oxygen atoms, which are coordinated to three vanadium sites, take part of the oxidation process. In our calculations we employed two different approaches, single site and pair approximations, and some Monte Carlo simulations. We have found the dependence of the critical concentration of vacancies on the diffusion rates, probability of reaction, and fraction of active vanadium sites, for the catalyst to operate in an active steady state.     

Infrared synthesis of SO3 by homogeneous gas-phase CO2 laser-driven reactions

By using a CO₂ laser operated at 10.6μm, a bimolecular reaction was induced in a binary SO₂/O₂ gas mixture, with a sensitizer gas (SF₆) as photo-absorbing species.The infrared (IR) synthesis of SO₃ was performed in a flowing gas device equipped with a continuous trapping system of the reaction product. Vibrational energy transfer processes presumably should play a specific role in SO₂ excitation and reaction in the presence of SF₆.     

An XPS study on the surface reduction of V2O5(0 0 1) induced by Ar ion bombardment

The effect of the irradiation with Al Kα X-rays during an XPS measurement upon the surface vanadium oxidation state of a fresh in vacuum cleaved V₂O₅(0 0 1) crystal was examined. Afterwards, the surface reduction of the V₂O₅(0 0 1) surface under Ar⁺ bombardment was studied. The degree of reduction of the vanadium oxide was determined by means of a combined analysis of the O1s and V2p photoelectron lines. Asymmetric line shapes were needed to fit the V³⁺2p photolines, due to the metallic character of V₂O₃ at ambient temperature. Under Ar⁺ bombardment, the V₂O₅(0 0 1) crystal surface reduces rather fast towards the V₂O₃ stoichiometry, after which a much slower reduction of the vanadium oxide occurs.     

The HO4H → O3 + H2O reaction catalysed by acidic,neutral and basic catalysts in the troposphere

A detailed effects of catalyst X (X?=?H₂O, (H₂O)₂, NH₃, NH₃···H₂O, H₂O···NH₃, HCOOH and H₂SO₄) on the HO₄H → O₃?+?H₂O reaction have been investigated by using quantum chemical calculations and canonical vibrational transition state theory with small curvature tunnelling. The calculated results show that (H₂O)₂-catalysed reactions much faster than H₂O-catalysed one because of the former bimolecular rate constant larger by 2.6–25.9 times than that of the latter one. In addition, the basic H₂O···NH₃ catalyst was found to be a better than the neutral catalyst of (H₂O)₂. However it is marginally less efficient than the acidic catalysts of HCOOH, and H₂SO₄. The effective rate constant (k'_t) in the presence of catalyst X have been assessed. It was found from k'_t that H₂O (at 100% RH) completely dominates over all other catalysts within the temperature range of 280–320?K at 0?km altitude. However, compared with the rate constant of HO₄H → H₂O?+?O₃ reaction, the k _eff values for H₂O catalysed reaction are smaller by 1–2 orders of magnitude, indicating that the catalytic effect of H₂O makes a negligible contribution to the gas phase reaction of HO₄H → O₃?+?H₂O.

Highlights

• A detailed effects of catalyst of H₂O, (H₂O)₂, NH₃, NH₃···H₂O, H₂O···NH₃, HCOOH and H₂SO₄ on the HO₄H → O₃?+?H₂O reaction has been performed.

• From energetic viewpoint, H₂SO₄ exerts the strongest catalytic role in HO₄H → O₃?+?H₂O reaction as compared with the other catalysts.

• At 0 km altitude H₂O (at 100% RH) completely dominates over all other catalysts within the temperature range of 280–320 K.

• HO₄H → H₂O?+?O₃ reaction with H₂O cannot be compete with the reaction without catalyst, due to the fact that the effective rate constants in the presence of H₂O are smaller.

     

Comprehensive evolution mechanism of SOx formation during pyrite oxidation

Pyrite (FeS₂) oxidation during coal combustion is one of the main sources of harmful SO₂ emission from coal-fired power plants. Density functional theory (DFT) study was performed to uncover the evolution mechanism of SO_x formation during pyrite oxidation. The results show that chemisorption mechanism is responsible for O₂, SO₂ and SO₃ adsorption on FeS₂ surface. The presence of formed oxidation layer (Fe₂O₃) weakens the interaction between O₂ molecule and FeS₂ surface. The adsorbed O₂ molecule easily dissociates into active surface O atom for SO_x formation. The dissociation reaction of O₂ is activated by 77.38?kJ/mol, and exothermic by 138.46?kJ/mol. Compared to the further oxidation of SO₂ into SO₃, SO₂ prefers to desorb from FeS₂ surface. The dominant reaction pathway of SO₂ formation from the oxidation of the outermost FeS₂ surface layer is a three-step process: surface lattice S oxidation, SO₂ desorption and replenishment of S vacancy by activated surface O atom. The elementary reaction of surface lattice S oxidation has an activation energy barrier of 197.96?kJ/mol, and is identified as the rate-limiting step. SO₂ formation from the further oxidation of bulk FeS₂ layer is controlled by a four-step process: bulk lattice S migration, lattice S oxidation, SO₂ desorption and surface O atom deposition. Migration of lattice S from bulk position to the outermost surface shows a high activation energy barrier of 175.83?kJ/mol. The deposition process of surface O atom is a relatively easy step, and is activated by 21.05?kJ/mol.     

介孔SO42-/Zr-SBA-15催化废弃油制生物柴油

采用廉价的无机锆源(无水硝酸锆)通过一步法合成表面含强Lewis酸位的SO₄^2-/Zr-SBA-15,该催化剂材料在废弃食用油和甲醇酯交换制生物柴油过程中表现出良好的催化活性和选择性. 实验考察了酯交换反应的最佳条件为：反应温度160 oC、反应时间12 h、催化剂Zr:Si为0.11、催化剂用量为10%、醇油比30:1. SO₄^2-/Zr-SBA-15在最佳反应条件下可使甘油三酯的转化率达到92.3%,脂肪酸甲酯的产率为91.7%. SO₄^2-/Zr-SBA-15具有高比表面积的介孔结构和表面酸性,且具有良好的反应稳定性和重复性,反应7次后的脂肪酸甲酯的产率仍稳定保持在74 ±1%.     

The effect of additional doping with Nb, Al or Cu on ferromagnetism and conductivity in V-doped TiO2 powders

Rutile Ti_0.94V_0.06O₂ and Ti_0.93V_0.06M_0.01O₂ (M=Nb, Al, and Cu) polycrystalline powders are synthesized by the standard solid-state reaction method. The room-temperature saturation magnetization and resistivity of Ti_0.94V_0.06O₂ powders are 2.5×10⁻³ emu/g (≈0.60×10⁻³μ_B/V) and above 10⁷ Ω cm, respectively. The ferromagnetism weakens remarkably, and the conductivity enhances after additional doping with Nb or Al in V-doped rutile TiO₂ powders. The room-temperature magnetization and resistivity of Ti_0.93V_0.06Cu_0.01O₂ powders are 2.1×10⁻³ emu/g and 1.26×10⁶ Ω cm, respectively. Based on analysis for chemical valence of dopants by the x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy spectra, and using the bound magnetic polaron model, the microscopic mechanisms of ferromagnetism in V-doped rutile TiO₂ powders with or without additional dopants are discussed in detail.     

Reasons for the deactivation of Pt/TiO2 photocatalyst treated by inert gas N2

The effect of N₂ treatment on the photocatalytic activity of Pt⁰/TiO₂ was investigated. The results showed that after treatment at 500 °C in N₂, 70% of the photocatalytic activity of 1.0 wt.% Pt⁰/TiO₂ was lost by the evaluation of photocatalytic oxidation reaction of C₃H₆. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and Ar⁺ ion sputtering tests revealed that in the course of high-temperature N₂ treatment, the size of Pt⁰ particles on TiO₂ increases and a strong interaction between metal and support, i.e. Pt⁰ particles encapsulated by Ti_xO_y, happens, which are the reasons for the deactivation of Pt⁰/TiO₂ photocatalyst treated by high-temperature N₂.     

Preparation and characterization of visible light responsive Fe2O3-TiO2 composites

In this study we present the effects of iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) on titanium dioxide (TiO₂) in synthesising visible-light reactive photocatalysts. A Fe₂O₃-TiO₂ composite photocatalyst was synthesized from Fe₂(SO₄)₃ and Ti(SO₄)₂ by a ethanol-assisted hydrothermal method. The preparation conditions were optimized through the investigation of the effects of hydrothermal temperature and time as well as molar ratio of Ti to Fe on the photocatalytic activity. The visual, physical and chemical properties of the Fe₂O₃-TiO₂ composites were investigated. The results showed that α-Fe₂O₃ and anatase TiO₂ were present in the composites. The Fe₂O₃-TiO₂ synthesized under optimum condition consisted of mesoporous structure with an average pore size of 4 nm and a surface area of 43 m²/g. Under visible and solar light irradiation, the photocatalytic activity of optimized sample was significantly higher than that of pure TiO₂. This sample led to a photodegradation efficiency of 90% and 40% of auramine under visible light and solar light, respectively.     

Photocatalytic performance of TiO2/V2O5 nanocomposite powder prepared by DC arc plasma

TiO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite powder was synthesized by the DC arc plasma, and its photocatalytic activity was examined by decompositions of Rhodamine B solution and toluene gas. In the synthesis of TiO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite powder, TiCl₄ and VOCl₃ precursors were introduced into thermal plasma flame with argon carrier gases through separated two gas bubblers. They were decomposed by Ar–N₂ thermal plasma generating Ti and V vapors, followed by the formation of oxides with the injection of additional oxygen into a plasma reactor. Nanocomposite composed of relatively small size V₂O₅ nanoparticles on a spherical TiO₂ nanoparticle which was about 250 nm in diameter was identified by X-ray diffractometry, electronic microscopy, and energy dispersive spectroscopy when the ratio of carrier gas flow rates for TiCl₄ to VOCl₃ was 1:4 or 1:5. In ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, the absorbed wavelength of light for synthesized TiO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite powder was wider than that for commercially available TiO₂ nanopowder. Therefore, Rhodamine B solution exposed to visible light was decomposed by TiO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite, whereas it was not decomposed by TiO₂ nanopowder. In addition, toluene decomposition in a dielectric barrier discharge reactor was carried out with nano-sized photocatalysts of TiO₂ nanopowder and TiO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite. Relatively higher removal rate of toluene was found in the case of TiO₂/V₂O₅ nanocomposite in virtue of improved photocatalytic performance.     

Studies of the activity of catalysts based on heteropolyacids

The catalytic activity of samples such as PPy(H₄SiW₁₂O₄₀), PPy(H₅PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀), PPy(H₂Fe(III)PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀), PPy(H₃Cu(II)PMo₁₀V₂O₄₀) has been examined in two different test reactions. The acid-base and oxidation-reduction properties were studied using the conversion of isopropyl alcohol to propene and acetone. Redox ability of catalysts was examined in the reaction of oxidation of allyl alcohol to glycidol. It was found that the activity of catalysts in the oxidation of allyl alcohol increases as the oxidation properties determined from the conversion of isopropyl alcohol increase. It was also observed that stronger oxidation-reduction properties of the catalyst result in a high rate of the consecutive reaction of glycidol to 3-hydroxypropanone.The phase composition of catalysts was determined by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD).     

TiO<Subscript>2−<Emphasis Type="Italic">x</Emphasis></Subscript> nanoparticles synthesized using He/Ar thermal plasma and their effectiveness on low-concentration mercury vapor removal

Oxygen-vacant titanium dioxide (TiO_2−x ) nanoparticles were synthesized using thermal plasma as a heating source at various applied plasma currents and He/Ar ratios. Samples with diverse characteristics were developed and the mercury removal effectiveness was subsequently evaluated. TiO₂ nanoparticles possessing high purity and uniform particle sizes were successfully synthesized using metal titanium and O₂ as precursors and Ar as plasma gas. TiO_2−x in anatase phase with a particle size at 5–10 nm was formed at the He/Ar volume ratio of 25/75. Further increasing the He/Ar ratio elevated the plasma temperature, causing the tungsten to melt, vaporize from the cathode, and then dope into the formed TiO₂ nanoparticles. The doped W appeared to inhibit the growth of nanoparticles and decrease the crystallinity of formed anatase. The effectiveness of oxygen-vacant sites on Hg⁰ removal under the visible light circumstance was confirmed. Hg⁰ removal by the TiO_2−x nanoparticles was enhanced by increasing the O₂ concentration. However, moisture reduced Hg⁰ capture, especially when light irradiation was applied. The reduction in Hg⁰ capture may be resulted from the competitive adsorption of H₂O on the active sites of TiO_2−x with Hg⁰ and transformed Hg²⁺.