Ni/sepiolite hydrogenation catalysts: Part 1: Precursor–support interaction and nature of exposed metal surfaces

A 10% loaded nickel on sepiolite catalyst has been prepared by a precipitation method and the characteristics of the resultant material compared with a similarly prepared Ni/silica catalyst and a sample in which only ion exchanged nickel was present in the sepiolite. Samples have been characterised by infrared (IR) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopies, ²⁹Si MAS–NMR and X-ray diffraction in an attempt to determine the nature of the nickel species present in the precursor stage. Nickel silicate species have been identified for both supports but this precursor is more resistant to reduction for the sepiolite which leads to the formation of catalysts with lower metal areas than the silica support. The nature of the reduced nickel particles has been determined by hydrogen chemisorption, IR of adsorbed CO and temperature programmed desorption of hydrogen.     

29Si MAS-NMR Study of Silica Gels and Xerogels: Influence of the Catalyst

Four silica gels were prepared by hydrolysis of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) in ethanol, using different catalysts: HCl, NaOH, NH₃, and NBu₄F. Nitrogen adsorption-desorption isotherms indicated that the HCl-catalyzed xerogel was purely microporous, whereas the other samples exhibited a very broad distribution of mesopores and a variable amount of micropores. ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectroscopy of the wet gels (before drying) pointed to a low degree of condensation for the HCl-catalyzed gel, and to the presence of unhydrolyzed TEOS monomer in the NaOH-catalyzed gel. Comparison with the ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectra of the xerogels indicated a significant increase of the degree of condensation during the drying procedure (3 hrs at 120°C under vacuum) for the HCl-catalyzed gel.     

29Si and 27Al MAS NMR spectra of mullites from different kaolinites

Mullites synthesized from four kaolinites with different random defect densities have been studied by 27Al and 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MAS NMR) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). All these mullites show the same XRD pattern. However, 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR spectra reveal that the mullites derived from kaolinites with high defect densities, have a sillimanite-type Al/Si ordering scheme and are low in silica, whereas those mullites derived from kaolinites with low defect densities, consist of both sillimanite- and mullite-type Al/Si ordering schemes and are rich in silica.     

Grafting of swelling clay materials with 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane

The grafting reaction between a trifunctional silylating agent and two kinds of 2:1 type layered silicates was studied using FTIR, XRD, TGA, and 29Si CP/MAS NMR. XRD patterns clearly indicate the introduction of 3-aminopropyltriethoxysilane (gamma-APS) into the clay interlayer. In the natural montmorillonite, gamma-APS adopts a parallel-bilayer arrangement, while it adopts a parallel-monolayer arrangement in the synthetic fluorohectorite. These different silane arrangements have a prominent effect on the mechanism of the condensation reaction within the clay gallery. In natural montmorillonite, the parallel-bilayer arrangement of gamma-APS results in bidentate (T2) and tridendate (T3) molecular environments, while the parallel-monolayer arrangement leads to monodentate (T1), as indicated by 29Si CP/MAS NMR spectra. This study demonstrates that the silylation reaction and the interlayer microstructure of the grafting products strongly depend on the original clay materials.     

Co-TUD-1: a ketone-selective catalyst for cyclohexane oxidation

Cobalt-containing mesoporous TUD-1 with different Si/Co ratios (100, 50, 20, and 10) was synthesized by the direct hydrothermal treatment method (DHT) using triethanolamine (TEA) as a template. The prepared samples (denoted as Co-TUD-1) were characterized by XRD, UV/Vis spectroscopy, elemental analysis, N2 sorption measurements, 29Si magic-angle spinning (MAS)-NMR, Raman spectroscopy, and HRTEM. The catalytic performance of Co-TUD-1 samples was tested in the liquid-phase oxidation of cyclohexane with tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as oxidant under solventless conditions. Higher catalytic efficiency was observed in samples with low Co-loading and thus, most likely isolated CoII active sites, than in samples with high Co-loading and nanoparticles or bulk Co3O4 embedded in the TUD-1 silica.     

Insertion of indigo molecules in the sepiolite structure as evidenced by 1H-29Si heteronuclear correlation spectroscopy

Despite the numerous studies of the famous indigo-based pigment Maya Blue, there are still many questions regarding the elucidation of its structure. Here, two-dimensional (2D) (1)H-(29)Si heteronuclear correlation (HETCOR) spectroscopy with frequency-switched Lee-Goldburg (FSLG) homonuclear decoupling is applied to sepiolite and sepiolite-indigo complexes. Owing to the high resolution in the (1)H dimension of the 2D (1)H-(29)Si HETCOR spectrum obtained by FSLG homonuclear decoupling, the assignment of the (29)Si cross-polarization magic-angle spinning (CPMAS) spectrum of sepiolite is clearly confirmed. Moreover, 2D (1)H-(29)Si FSLG-HETCOR spectroscopy gives the first direct evidence that some indigo molecules are inserted in the sepiolite structure whereas no interaction between indigo and the external side surface (silanol groups) is observed in the (29)Si CPMAS spectra. These results are consistent with the fact that indigo molecules interact with water coordinated to magnesium and suggest that Maya Blue made from sepiolite is not a surface complex.     

Effect of the pore size of Co/SBA-15 isomorphically substituted with zirconium on its catalytic performance in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis

Cobalt catalysts supported on a series of mesoporous SBA-15 materials isomorphically substituted with zirconium (Zr/Si atomic ratio = 1/20) with different pore sizes (5.7 nm, 7.8 nm, 11.6 nm, 17.6 nm) have been synthesized. The catalysts were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, ²⁹Si solid state magic angle spinning (MAS) NMR, N₂ adsorption-desorption measurements, X-ray powder diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, H₂-temperature programmed reduction, H₂-temperature programmed desorption and O₂ titrations. The results indicated that larger pore size led to weaker interactions between cobalt and the supports which lowered the temperature of both reduction steps (Co₃O₄→CoO and CoO→Co⁰). The catalytic performances of the catalysts in Fischer-Tropsch synthesis (FTS) were tested in a fixed bed reactor. It was found that the FTS catalytic activity and product selectivity depended strongly on the pore size of the catalysts. The catalyst with a pore size of 7.8 nm showed the best FTS activity, and the catalyst with a pore size of 17.6 nm showed the highest selectivity to C₁₂–C₂₀ and C₂₀₊ hydrocarbons.     

Solid-state NMR spectra of paramagnetic silica-based materials: observation of 29Si and 27Al nuclei in the first coordination spheres of manganese ions

Some silica-based solids, prepared by the sol/gel method in the presence of high Mn2+ concentrations, have been characterized by the 29Si, 27Al MAS NMR spectra and 29Si T1 measurements. The single-pulse 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR spectra have shown broad spinning sideband patterns that are interpreted in terms of anisotropic bulky magnetic susceptibility (BMS) and dipole-field effects. In the absence of paramagnetic isotropic shifts, the 29Si and 27Al nuclei observed in the single-pulse NMR spectra have been assigned to nuclei remote from paramagnetic centers. It has been demonstrated that the 29Si and 27Al nuclei, which are in the vicinity of the manganese ions, can be detected by the Hahn-echo MAS NMR experiments at different carrier frequencies.     

New alkyl-phosphate bonded stationary phases for liquid chromatographic separation of biologically active compounds

A new type of bonded stationary phase for liquid chromatography, with the properties of immobilized artificial membranes, has been synthesized. Alkyl-phosphate adsorbents were obtained by modification of aminopropyl silica gel. The structures of the synthesized materials were confirmed by use of instrumental techniques--elemental analysis, infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and (13)C and (29)Si CP/MAS NMR. Analysis revealed that the adsorbents mimic the phospholipids present in natural cell membranes. The new synthesized alkyl-phosphate stationary phases may be used for liquid chromatographic separation of biologically active compounds of different polarity.     

Incorporation of aluminum in the calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) of hydrated portland cements: a high-field 27Al and 29Si MAS NMR investigation

The calcium silicate hydrate (C-S-H) phase resulting from hydration of a white Portland cement (wPc) in water and in a 0.3 M NaAlO(2) solution has been investigated at 14 and 11 hydration times, respectively, ranging from 6 h to 1 year by (27)Al and (29)Si MAS NMR spectroscopy. (27)Al MAS NMR spectra recorded at 7.05, 9.39, 14.09, and 21.15 T have allowed a determination of the (27)Al isotropic chemical shift (delta(iso)) and quadrupolar product parameter (P(Q) = C(Q)) for tetrahedrally coordinated Al incorporated in the C-S-H phase and for a pentacoordinated Al site. The latter site may originate from Al(3+) substituting for Ca(2+) ions situated in the interlayers of the C-S-H structure. The spectral region for octahedrally coordinated Al displays resonances from ettringite, monosulfate, and a third aluminate hydrate phase (delta(iso) = 5.0 ppm and P(Q) = 1.20 MHz). The latter phase is tentatively ascribed to a less-crystalline aluminate gel or calcium aluminate hydrate. The tetrahedral Al incorporated in the C-S-H phase has been quantitatively determined from (27)Al MAS spectra at 14.09 T and indirectly observed quantitatively in (29)Si MAS NMR spectra by the Q(2)(1Al) resonance at -81.0 ppm. A linear correlation is observed between the (29)Si MAS NMR intensity for the Q(2)(1Al) resonance and the quantity of Al incorporated in the C-S-H phase from (27)Al MAS NMR for the different samples of hydrated wPc. This correlation supports the assignment of the resonance at delta(iso)((29)Si) = -81.0 ppm to a Q(2)(1Al) site in the C-S-H phase and the assignment of the (27)Al resonance at delta(iso)((27)Al) = 74.6 ppm, characterized by P(Q)((27)Al) = 4.5 MHz, to tetrahedrally coordinated Al in the C-S-H. Finally, it is shown that hydration of wPc in a NaAlO(2) solution results in a C-S-H phase with a longer mean chain length of SiO(4) tetrahedra and an increased quantity of Al incorporated in the chain structure as compared to the C-S-H phase resulting from hydration of wPc in water.     

化学气相沉积法制备Ti/HMS催化剂及甲基接枝改性

用化学气相沉积法制备了Ti/HMS介孔分子筛催化剂, 并对其进行甲基接枝改性. 用XRD、N2-吸附、ICP-AES、FTIR, UV-vis和29Si CP/MAS NMR等手段对样品进行了表征, 考察了催化剂的丙烯环氧化性能. 结果表明: 气相沉积法载钛和接枝改性减小了HMS分子筛表面的孔径和比表面, 但是分子筛的介孔特征仍然保持; 随着沉积时间的增加(0.5～2 h), 催化剂的钛含量逐渐增加, 催化活性也随之增加, 但当沉积时间超过2 h后, 钛含量和催化活性均保持不变; 接枝改性后催化剂的环氧化活性和选择性均显著提高; 气相沉积法合成Ti/HMS比水热法合成Ti-HMS具有更高的环氧化催化活性.     

Study of raw and thermally treated sepiolite from the Mantoudi area,Euboea, Greece

Raw and thermally treated sepiolites from the Mantoudi area, Euboea, Greece, were investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) in combination with thermo-gravimetric analysis (TG/DTG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA), as well as Fourier transform (FTIR) spectroscopy, in order to study the collapse of the sepiolite structure with increasing temperature. The main mineral constituent (>95%) is a well crystallized sepiolite. Quartz and dolomite occur in minor amounts. Calcination of the samples was carried out up to 350, 720 and 820°C, for 2 h, and ‘sepiolite dihydrite’, ‘sepiolite anhydrite’ and ‘enstatite’ were formed, respectively, as magnesium co-ordinated water and octahedrically co-ordinated hydroxyl groups, are removed and the dehydroxylated phase recrystallize to enstatite (MgSiO₃). These structural and textural changes play an important role to the properties and uses of the studied sepiolites.     

Solid-state NMR identification and quantification of newly formed aluminosilicate phases in weathered kaolinite systems

The weathering of a specimen kaolinite clay was studied over the course of 369 d via solid-state 29Si magic angle spinning (MAS) nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy and high-field 27Al MAS NMR. The chosen baseline solution conditions (0.05 mol kg-1 of Al, 2 mol kg-1 of Na+, 1 mol kg-1 of NO3-, 1 mol kg-1 of OH-, and pH approximately 13.8) approximate those of solutions leaking from waste tanks at the Hanford Site in Richland, WA. Nonradioactive Cs and Sr cations were added to this synthetic tank waste leachate (STWL) solution at concentrations of 10(-3), 10(-4), and 10(-5) molal (m) to represent their radionuclide counterparts. The transformations of silicon- and aluminum-containing solid phase species were monitored quantitatively by using NMR spectroscopy, with the resulting spectra directly reporting the influence of the initial Cs and Sr on formation and transformation of the neo-formed solids. At the lowest concentration of Cs and Sr employed (10(-5) m in each cation) peaks consistent with the formation of zeolite-like minerals were detected via 29Si and 27Al MAS NMR as early as 33 d. At concentrations of 10(-3) m in each cation, new silicon species are not detected until 93 d, although neophases containing four-coordinate aluminum were detectable at earlier reaction times via 27Al MAS NMR. At the highest magnetic field strengths employed in this NMR study, deconvolutions of resonances detected in the tetrahedral region of the 27Al MAS spectra yielded multiple components, indicating the existence of at least four new aluminum-containing phases. Two of these phases are identified as sodalite and cancrinite through comparison with diffuse-reflectance infrared (DRIFT) spectra and powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) results, while a third phase may correlate with a previously detected aluminum-rich chabazite phase. All measurable solid reaction products have been quantified via their 27Al MAS resonances acquired at high magnetic field strengths (17.6 T), and the quantitative nature of the 27Al NMR data shows that cancrinite growth increases while sodalite reaches a steady state with respect to total aluminum in the solid phases. The data also relate the coupling of Cs sorption to the ripening of feldspathoid phases in this heterogeneous system as a function of time, and illustrate the important influence of co-contaminants on the environmental reaction kinetics studied here.     

Optimization, standardization, and testing of a new NMR method for the determination of zeolite host-organic guest crystal structures

An optimized and automated protocol for determining the location of guest sorbate molecules in highly siliceous zeolites from (29)Si INADEQUATE and (1)H/(29)Si cross polarization (CP) magic-angle spinning (MAS) NMR experiments is described. With the peaks in the (29)Si MAS NMR spectrum assigned to the unique Si sites in the zeolite framework by a 2D (29)Si INADEQUATE experiment, the location of the sorbate molecule is found by systematically searching for sorbate locations for which the measured rates of (1)H/(29)Si cross polarization of the different Si sites correlate linearly with (1)H/(29)Si second moments calculated from H-Si distances. Due to the (1)H/(29)Si cross polarization being in the "slow CP regime" for many zeolite-sorbate complexes, it is proposed that the CP rate constants are best measured by (1)H/(29)Si cross polarization drain experiments, if possible, to avoid complications that may arise from fast (1)H and (29)Si T(1)rho relaxations. An algorithm for determining the sorbate molecule location is described in detail. A number of ways to effectively summarize and display the large number of solutions which typically result from a prediction of the structure from the CP MAS NMR data are presented, including estimates of the errors involved in the structure determinations. As a working example throughout this paper, the structure of the low loaded p-dichlorobenzene/ZSM-5 complex is determined under different conditions from solid-state (1)H/(29)Si CP MAS NMR data, and the solutions are shown to be in excellent agreement with the known single-crystal X-ray diffraction structure. This structure determination approach is shown to be quite insensitive to the use of relative rate constants rather than absolute values, to the detailed structure of the zeolite framework, and relatively insensitive to temperature and motions.     

Revisiting silicate substituted hydroxyapatite by solid-state NMR

Silicon-substituted hydroxyapatite (Si-HAp) has shown promising properties such as high-bone remodeling around implants. So far, the techniques used for the structural characterization of the Si-HAp have given indirect evidence of the presence of silicon inside the structure (by X-ray and neutron diffraction). In this paper, we focus on Si-HAp derivatives obtained by a precipitation method (widely described in the literature). We demonstrate here by solid-state NMR spectroscopy that only a fraction of the silicon atoms are incorporated into the HAp lattice in the form of Q(0) (SiO(4) (4-)) species, for 4.6 wt% Si-HAp. A large amount of silicate units are located outside the HAp structure and correspond to silica-gel units. All results were established through (29)Si MAS, (1)H -->(29)Si CP MAS and T(1)rho((1)H) edited (1)H -->(29)Si CP MAS experiments. This last pulse scheme acted as a powerful editing sequence, leading to unambiguous spectroscopic conclusions, concerning the location of the SiO(4) (4-) moieties.     

硅烷化处理的纳米ZSM-5的结构表征及催化性能

采用多次浸渍法和化学反应沉积法对纳米HZSM-5分子筛外表面进行了硅烷化处理,考察了改性后纳米ZSM-5对甲苯歧化的催化活性.采用改进的Hammett指示剂法和吡啶吸附红外光谱研究了催化剂的酸性位,采用X射线衍射和29Si MASNMR对催化剂的结构进行了表征.研究结果表明,硅烷化处理降低了纳米ZSM-5酸性位的浓度,从而降低了纳米ZSM-5的催化活性.硅烷化处理还减少了纳米ZSM-5中Si的Q4物种,降低了纳米ZSM-5的相对结晶度,同时硅烷化处理产生了脱铝作用.骨架铝含量的减少导致催化剂的酸性位减少,催化活性降低.     

Effect of molecular oxygen on the variable-temperature 29Si MAS NMR spectra of zeolite-sorbate complexes

Structure determinations of siliceous zeolite-sorbate host-guest complexes by solid-state NMR require highly resolved 29Si MAS NMR spectra. As the temperature is lowered, the 29Si MAS NMR spectra of many zeolite-sorbate complexes become broadened such that the resolution of the individual 29Si peaks is lost, limiting the application of solid-state NMR for structure determination. It is shown that the 29Si peak widths are related to the 29Si T2 relaxation times and that the source of the 29Si relaxation and the line broadening is paramagnetic molecular oxygen in the channels of the zeolite. Removal of the oxygen by purging the sample with nitrogen gas leads to a dramatic increase in the resolution of the 29Si MAS NMR spectrum of the p-dibromobenzene/ZSM-5 complex. An analysis of the individual 29Si T1 relaxation times reveals that the oxygen molecules are localized mainly in the zigzag channels of ZSM-5, suggesting that the p-dibromobenzene molecules are located in the channel intersections.     

Characterization of covalent linkages in organically functionalized MCM-41 mesoporous materials by solid-state NMR and theoretical calculations

The covalent linkages formed during functionalization of MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves with five chloroalkylsilanes ((EtO)3Si(CH2Cl), (MeO)3Si(CH2CH2CH2Cl), Cl3Si(CH2CH2CH3), Cl2Si(CH3)(CH2Cl) and Cl2Si(CH3)2) have been investigated using high-resolution solid-state NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations. Structural information was obtained from 1H-13C and 1H-29Si heteronuclear (HETCOR) NMR spectra, in which high resolution in the 1H dimension was obtained by using fast MAS. The 1H-13C HETCOR results provided the assignments of 1H and 13C resonances associated with the surface functional groups. Sensitivity-enhanced 1H-29Si HETCOR spectra, acquired using Carr-Purcell-Meiboom-Gill refocusing during data acquisition, revealed the identity of 29Si sites (Qn, Tn, and Dn) and the location of functional groups relative to these sites. Optimal geometries of local environments representing the Qn, Tn and Dn resonances were calculated using molecular mechanics and ab initio methods. Subsequently, DFT calculations of 29Si, 13C, and 1H chemical shifts were performed using Gaussian 03 at the B3LYP/6-311++G(2d,2p) level. The theoretical calculations are in excellent accord with the experimental chemical shifts. This work illustrates that state-of-the-art spectroscopic and theoretical tools can be used jointly to refine the complex structures of inorganic-organic hybrid materials.     

铝改性介孔二氧化硅泡沫载体材料合成及其DBT加氢脱硫性能

介孔二氧化硅泡沫(MCFs)材料具有超大的三维球形孔结构、超大孔容(1.0–2.4 cm3/g)、高比表面(1000 m2/g)、孔径可调范围较广(24–50 nm)且球形孔道之间通过窗口(9–22 nm)联结,因此具有优良的传质性能,能够促进加氢脱硫反应.但是,与传统的微孔分子筛相比,该纯硅类介孔材料酸性较弱,不利于一些酸催化反应;因此,对纯硅材料进行金属改性以增加其酸性,从而促进催化剂的催化活性.而一般对纯硅类介孔材料采用Al,Ti,Zr等金属,铝改性主要是为纯硅载体提供酸性,而钛锆改性则是为了调变活性金属以及促进金属的分散,从而提高催化剂的加氢脱硫活性.因此,我们主要采用后改性方法,以P123为微乳液体系中的表面活性剂,TEOS为硅源,TMB为扩孔剂,异丙醇铝为铝源,成功合成了一系列Si/Al比不同的介孔二氧化硅泡沫材料.通过改变异丙醇铝的加入量,成功合成了系列Si/Al比(x)的NiMo/Al-MCFs(x)(x=10,20,30,40和50)催化剂.对所合成的载体及相应的催化剂通过SAXS,N2吸附脱附,SEM,Py-FTIR,UV-Vis,H2-TPR,NH3-TPD,HRTEM,Raman及27Al MAS NMR等表征手段进行分析,并在高压加氢微反装置上对相应的NiMo负载型催化剂进行DBT HDS活性评价,系统分析了不同硅铝比对催化剂DBT HDS反应活性的影响.SAXS和SEM表征结果表明,Al后改性并没有破坏载体材料的结构;27Al MAS NMR表征结果表明,后改性法能成功把Al掺杂进纯硅材料的骨架中.催化剂UV-Vis和Raman表征结果表明,当Si/Al比为20时,NiMo/Al-MCFs(20)催化剂Mo物种的带隙能量最大,且氧化钼的平均粒径较小,Mo物种在该催化剂中的分散度较好;H2-TPR分析结果表明,NiMo/Al-MCFs(20)催化剂还原温度较低,最易还原.Py-FTIR结果表明,随着Al加入量的增大,其酸性逐渐增大,当Si/Al比为20时酸性达到最大,继续增加Al的加入量,其酸性不再增加;此外,NiMo/Al-MCFs(20)的硫化度最高,且其MoS2的堆垛层数较低.负载活性金属后制备了NiMo/Al-MCFs(x)催化剂,将其应用于DBT加氢脱硫反应,并与传统NiMo/γ-Al2O3催化剂加氢脱硫反应活性作对比.研究发现,所制备的NiMo/Al-MCFs(x)系列催化剂由于具有较大孔径、比表面积及孔容和较强的酸性,因而其DBT HDS活性明显高于传统的工业NiMo/γ-Al2O3催化剂,且催化剂活性在硅铝比达到20时最大,最高可达96%,因此它作为加氢脱硫催化剂载体具有很大的应用前景.