A kinetic study on methylation of naphthalene over Fe/ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts

2,6-Dimethylnaphthalene is an important dimethylnaphthalene isomer which can be used in the production of polyethylene naphthalate. The novelty of this study is to reveal Langmuir–Hinshelwood and Eley–Rideal reaction rate equations for the methylation of naphthalene over Fe/ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts besides the proposed reaction rate equation. To investigate the kinetics and mechanisms of naphthalene methylation, the methylation experiments were carried out in a gas–solid catalytic fixed-bed reactor in the presence of Fe/ZSM-5 zeolite catalysts at two different temperatures (450 and 500 °C) and five different weight hourly space velocities (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 2.5, 3.0 h^?1). A naphthalene:methanol:1,2,4-trimethyl benzene mixture having a 1:3:10 molar ratio was used as a feed stream. The methylation products were identified by using GC–MS. For the methylation kinetics of naphthalene, the reaction rates depending on the naphthalene and methanol concentration were determined. Furthermore, the effects of temperature and weight hourly space velocity on the conversion of naphthalene, the selectivity of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, and the ratio of 2-methylnaphthalene/1-methylnaphthalene were determined. The results of this study demonstrate that the Langmuir–Hinshelwood reaction mechanism for naphthalene methylation is more compatible at 450 °C and the Eley–Rideal reaction mechanism at 500 °C. Moreover, in addition to 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene, other dimethylnaphthalene and tri-methylnaphthalene isomers were formed in the methylation of naphthalene. The conversion of naphthalene reached approximately 70%. Moreover, the highest selectivity of 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene was almost 40%. The ratios of 2-methylnaphthalene/1-methylnaphalene demonstrate that the methylation of naphthalene to 2-methynaphthalene is much higher than to 1-methynaphthalene.     

Selective production of propylene from methanol over high-silica mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites treated with NaOH and NaOH/tetrapropylammonium hydroxide

The influence of alkaline treatments with NaOH and NaOH/TPAOH mixtures on the physicochemical properties and catalytic performance of high-silica ZSM-5 zeolites (Si/Al = 175) during the methanol-to-propylene (MTP) reaction have been investigated. It was found that alkaline treatment in an NaOH/TPAOH solution with TPAOH/(NaOH + TPAOH) = 0.4 ensures the formation of narrow and uniform intracrystalline mesoporosity without severely damaging the crystal structure and the intrinsic acidity of the zeolite, leading to the best catalytic performance, including the highest propylene selectivity (47.2) and P/E ratio (4.97) as well as the longest catalyst lifetime (80 h).     

EPR investigation of persistent radicals produced from the photolysis of dibenzyl ketones adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolites

Photolysis of ketones (1, 1-oMe, 2, 2-oMe, 3, and 4) adsorbed on ZSM-5 zeolites produces persistent carbon-centered radicals that can be readily observed by conventional steady-state EPR spectroscopy. The radicals are persistent for time periods of seconds to many hours depending on the supramolecular structure of the initial radical@zeolite complex and the diffusion and reaction dynamics of radicals produced by photolysis. The structures of the persistent radicals responsible for the observed EPR spectra are determined by a combination of alternate methods of generation of the same radical, by deuterium substitution, and by spectral simulation. A clear requirement for persistence is that the radicals produced by photolysis must either separate and diffuse from the external to the internal surface or be generated within the internal surface and separate and diffuse apart. The persistence of radicals located on the internal surface is the result of inhibition of radical-radical reactions. Radicals that are produced on the external surface and whose molecular structure prevents diffusion into the internal surface are transient because radical-radical reactions occur rapidly on the external surface. The reactions of the persistent radicals with oxygen and nitric oxide were directly studied in situ by EPR analysis. In the case of reaction with oxygen, persistent peroxy radicals are formed in high yield. The addition of nitric oxide scavenges persistent radicals and leads initially to a diamagnetic nitroso compound, which is transformed into a persistent nitroxide radical by further photolysis. The influence of variation of radical structure on transience/persistence is discussed and correlated with supramolecular structure and reactivity of the radicals and their parent ketones.     

A gas-phase kinetic study on the thermal decomposition of 2-chloropropene

The gas-phase thermal decomposition of 2-chloropropene in the presence of a radical inhibitor was studied in the temperature range of 668.2–747.2 K and pressure between 11–76 Torr using the conventional static system. The dehydrochlorination to propyne and HCl was the only reaction channel and accounted for >98% of the reaction. The formation of propyne was found to be homogeneous and unimolecular and follows a first-order rate law. The observed rate coefficient is expressed by the following Arrhenius equation: $$ k_{total} = 10^{13.05 \pm 0.46} (s^{ - 1} )\exp ^{ - 242.6 \pm 6.2({{kJ} \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {{kJ} {mol}}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {mol}})/RT} . $$ The hydrogen halide elimination is believed to proceed through a semipolar four-membered cyclic transition state. The presence of a methyl group on the α-carbon atom lowered the activation energy by 47 kJ mol^?1. The experimentally observed pressure dependence of the rate constant is compared with the theoretically predicted values that are obtained by RRKM calculations.     

A thermochemistry and kinetic study on the thermal decomposition of ethoxyquinoline and ethoxyisoquinoline

Quantum chemical calculations were used to study the production of ethylene and keto/enol tautomers from ethoxyquinoline (2‐EQ) and ethoxyisoquinoline (1‐EisoQ and 3‐EisoQ) in the gas phase and ethanol at the MP2/6‐311++G(2d,2p)//BMK/6‐31+G(d,p) level. The obtained data indicate that the elimination of ethylene from 1‐EisoQ and 2‐EQ is slightly more favorable than from 3‐EisoQ. Formation of quinolone and isoquinolone (2‐EQO, 1‐EisoQO, and 3‐EisoQO) is kinetically favored compared to their enols. Decomposition of 2‐EQ and 1‐EisoQ to ethylene and keto forms is thermodynamically and kinetically preferable more stable than the corresponding enols. However, the hydroxy form of 3‐EisoQ is more stable than its keto tautomer in the gas phase and ethanol. The enol tautomers cost less energy when formed from their keto forms rather than from the parent ethoxyquinolone and ethoxyisoquinoline.     

Studies on the thermal behavior and decomposition kinetic of drugs cetirizine and simvastatin

Understanding the response of drugs and their formulations to thermal stresses is an integral part of the development of stable medicinal products. In the present study, the thermal degradation of two drug samples (cetirizine and simvastatin) was determined by differential scanning calorimetery (DSC) and simultaneous thermogravimetery/differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) techniques. The results of TG analysis revealed that the main thermal degradation for the cetirizine occurs during two temperature ranges of 165–227 and 247–402 °C. The TG/DTA analysis of simvastatin indicates that this drug melts (at about 143 °C) before it decomposes. The main thermal degradation for the simvastatin occurs during two endothermic behaviors in the temperature ranges of 238–308 and 308–414 °C. The influence of the heating rate (5, 10, 15, and 20 °C min^?1) on the DSC behavior of both the drug samples was verified. The results showed that as the heating rate was increased, decomposition temperatures of the compounds were increased. Also, the kinetic parameters such as activation energy and frequency factor for the compounds were obtained from the DSC data by non-isothermal methods proposed by ASTM E696 and Ozawa. Based on the values of activation energy obtained by ASTM E696 method, the values of activation energy for cetirizine and simvastatin were 120.8 and 170.9 kJ mol^?1, respectively. Finally, the values of ΔS ^#, ΔH ^#, and ΔG ^# of their decomposition reaction were calculated.     

A comparative study of the degradation of different starches using thermal analysis

Four starches obtained from different sources were treated to thermal analysis and their mechanisms of degradation were deciphered using a rising temperature method of evaluation. A comparison of the solid state reactivity between the four starches was made, using a method known as the alpha(s)-alpha(r) method. By this method, it was possible to differentiate between four starches of completely different plant origin. Potato starch and rice starch were found to have the highest reactivity.     

Comparative study on pore structures of mesoporous ZSM-5 from resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogel and carbon aerogel templating

Resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels and carbon aerogels of different mesoporosities have been used as templates for preparing bimodal zeolites of mesopores. Samples were thoroughly characterized with X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, N(2) adsorption at 77 K, as well as FT-IR spectroscopy and (29)Si nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolites have additional mesopores of 9-25 nm in widths and 0.07-0.2 cm(3)/g in volumes, besides their perfect inherent micropores. Experimental results show the mesoporous systems of the finally obtained zeolites can be influenced by proper preparation of resorcinol-formaldehyde aerogels and carbon aerogels through solution chemistry. Consequently, zeolites of tunable mesoporosities can be prepared with this unique methodology.     

A kinetic and mechanistic study of thermal decomposition of strontium titanyl oxalate

Thermal decomposition of anhydrous strontium titanyl oxalate proceeds through a series of complex reactions to form strontium metatitanate at high temperature. Among them the decomposition of oxalate is the first major thermal event. A kinetic study of oxalate decomposition in the temperature range 553-593 K has been carried out by cooled gas pressure measurement in vacuum. Results fitted the Zhuravlev equation for almost the entire α-range (0.05-0.92) indicating the occurrence of a diffusion-controlled, three-dimensional rate process. The activation energy has been calculated to be 164 ± 10 kJ mol⁻¹. Results from elemental analysis, TGA, IR and SEM studies of undecomposed and partially decomposed samples have been used to supplement kinetic observations in formulating the mechanism for oxalate decomposition.     

A comparative study of structure,thermal degradation,and combustion behavior of starch from different plant sources

The present study investigated the structure, degradation properties, and combustion behavior of starch from maize, sweet potato, lotus root, and tobacco. Compared with other plant starches, tobacco starch had the smallest size, the highest amylose content and the least crystallinity. Microscale combustion calorimetry (MCC) experiment demonstrated that sweet potato starch showed the maximum peak heat release rate value (888.0 W g^?1) while tobacco starch showed the minimum value (316.0 W g^?1) and thermogravimetric analysis coupled with Fourier transform infrared spectrometer (TG-FTIR) results showed tobacco starch had good char formability (residue mass: 15.6%) and released more incombustible gaseous products, such as H₂O and CO₂. These results suggest that the thermal properties of plant starches were mainly influenced by the structural features and amylose content, especially the amylose ratio, and tobacco starch was very promising for application in green flame-retardant material.     

Thermal decomposition of biodiesel fuels produced from rapeseed, jatropha, and coffee oils with different alcohols

Thermal behaviors and the effects of various alcohols on biodiesel fuel (BDF) derived from edible oil such as rapeseed oil and inedible oils such as coffee oil and jatropha oil, were studied. TG curves in air and N₂ of rapeseed BDF, jatropha BDF, drip coffee, and BDF espresso coffee BDF synthesized from the methanol presented similar results which exhibited only one mass loss step, which is attributed to vaporization or combustion of the methyl esters. The decomposition temperature (T _d) of rapeseed, jatropha and coffee Bt-BDF were high by about 30 °C compared with the standard, Me-BDF. The amount of decomposition residue at 400 °C was found to be related to the number of carbon atoms in the alcohol, with the residue becoming greater with more carbons in the alcohol. The oxidation stability of rapeseed BDF depended on the carbon chain of the alcohol. However, coffee and jatropha BDFs were stable in spite of the long chain alcohol.     

A comparative study on the thermal decomposition of some transition metal carboxylates

Thermal decomposition of transition metal malonates, MCH₂C₂O₄?xH₂O and transition metal succinates, M(CH₂)₂C₂O₄?xH₂O (M=Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn) has been studied employing TG, DTG, DTA, XRD, SEM, IR and Mössbauer spectroscopic techniques. After dehydration, the anhydrous metal malonates and succinates decompose directly to their respective metal oxides in the temperature ranges 310–400 and 400–525°C, respectively. The oxides obtained have been found to be nanosized. The thermal stability of succinates have been found to be higher than that of the respective malonates.     

A non-isothermal kinetic study of the thermal decomposition of magnesium alkoxides and amides

The thermal decomposition of alkoxides and amides of magnesium have been studied by vacuum TGA under both isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. These compounds were found to follow a unimolecular decay law, which in integrated form is ln(1  α)  kt, where α is the fraction of material reacted, and k is the Arrhenius rate constant. The rate-controlling process is random nucleation, one nucleus on each particle. Energies of activation calculated by isothermal and non-isothermal methods agree to within ±20%.     

Transient kinetic studies and microkinetic modeling of primary olefin formation from dimethyl ether over ZSM-5 catalysts

The formation of primary olefins from dimethyl ether (DME) was studied over ZSM-5 catalysts at 300°C using a novel step response methodology in a temporal analysis of products (TAP) reactor. For the first time, the TAP reactor framework was used to conduct single- and multiple-step response cycles of DME (balance argon) over a shallow bed with the continuous flow panel. Propylene is the major primary olefin and portrays an S-shaped profile with a preceding induction period when it is not observed in the gas phase. Methanol and water portray overshoot profiles due to their different rates of generation and consumption. DME effluent shows a rapid rise halfway to its steady-state value leading to a slow rise thereafter because of its high desorption rates followed by subsequent reactions involving DME in further steps during the induction period. To analyze the experimental data quantitatively, nine reaction schemes were compared, and kinetic parameters were obtained by solving a transient plug flow reactor model with coupled dispersion, convection, adsorption, desorption, and reaction steps. The methoxymethyl pathway involving dimethoxyethane and methyl propenyl ether gives the closest match to experimental data in agreement with recent density functional theory studies. Gaseous dispersion coefficients of ca. 10⁻⁹ m² s⁻¹ were obtained in the TAP reactor. The novel experimental data validated against the transient kinetic model suggests that after the formation of initial species, the bottleneck in propylene formation is the transformation of the initial C–C bond, that is dimethoxyethane formed initially from DME and methoxymethyl groups. DME adsorption on ZSM-5 catalyst generates surface methoxy groups, which further react with the feed to give methoxymethyl groups. These methoxymethyl groups are regenerated through a series of reactions involving intermediates such as dimethoxymethane and methyl propenyl ether before propylene formation.     

A comparative study on the thermal decomposition of some transition metal maleates and fumarates

Thermal decomposition of M(mal/fum)·xH₂O (M=Mn, Co, Ni) has been studied in static air atmosphere from ambient to 500°C employing TG-DTG-DTA, XRD and IR spectroscopic techniques. After dehydration the anhydrous maleate salts decompose to metal oxalate in the temperature range of 320–360°C, which at higher temperature undergo an abrupt oxidative pyrolysis to oxides. The anhydrous fumarate salts have been found to decompose directly to oxide phase. A comparison of thermal analysis reveals that fumarates are thermally more stable than maleates.     

Visualizing the crystal structure and locating the catalytic activity of micro- and mesoporous ZSM-5 zeolite crystals by using in situ optical and fluorescence microscopy

A combination of optical and fluorescence microscopy was used to study the morphology of micro‐ and mesoporous H‐ZSM‐5 zeolite crystals (17×4×4 μm) and to evaluate, in a spatially resolved manner, the effect of mesoporosity, introduced via desilication, on catalytic performance. For this purpose, the oligomerization of various styrene molecules was used as a model reaction, in which the carbocation intermediates formed in the zeolite pores act as reporter molecules. In situ confocal fluorescence measurements after the template removal process showed that the crystals generally consist of three different subunits that have pyramidal boundaries with each other. Examination of these crystals during styrene oligomerization revealed differences in the catalytic activity between the purely microporous and the combined micro‐ and mesoporous crystals. The introduction of intracrystalline mesoporosity limits the formation to dimeric carbocation intermediates and facilitates the transport of styrene molecules inside the zeolite volume. This leads to a more uniform coloration and fluorescence pattern of the crystals. Moreover, the oligomerization of various styrene compounds, which differ in their reactivity, provides a good way of estimating the Brønsted acid strength in a spatially resolved manner, showing a nonhomogeneously distributed Brønsted acidity over the volume of the crystals. More detailed information on the structure of the ZSM‐5 crystals was revealed for mesoporous crystals during the oligomerization of 4‐methoxystyrene. This reaction induced an “explosion” of the crystal leading to the formation of a complex system with at least eight different subunits. Finally, polarized‐light microscopy was used to unravel the pore geometry in these individual building blocks. The observed differences in catalytic behavior between micro‐ and mesoporous ZSM‐5 crystals are strengthened by the microspectroscopic techniques employed, which show that upon desilication the crystal morphology is affected, the product distribution is changed towards less conjugated carbocation intermediates, and that a gradient in Brønsted acid strength appears to be present.     

Aromatization over nanosized Ga-containing ZSM-5 zeolites prepared by different methods: Effect of acidity of active Ga species on the catalytic performance

Nanosized Ga-containing ZSM-5 zeolites were prepared via isomorphous substitution and impregnation followed by characterized using various techniques. The catalytic performance of the zeolites for the aromatization of 1-hexene was investigated. The results indicate that isomorphous substitution promotes the incorporation of Ga heteroatoms into the framework along with the formation of extra-framework GaO⁺ species ([GaO⁺]^a) that have stronger interactions with the negative potential of the framework. In addition, based on the Py-IR results and catalytic performance, the [GaO⁺]^a species with stronger Lewis acid sites produced a better synergism with moderate Brønsted acid sites and thus improved the selectivity to aromatic compounds. However, the impregnation results in the formation of Ga₂O₃ phase and small amounts of GaO⁺ species that are mainly located on the external surface ([GaO⁺]^b), which contribute to weaker Lewis acid sites due to weaker interactions with the zeolite framework. During 1-hexene aromatization, the nanosized Ga isomorphously substituted ZSM-5 zeolite samples (Gax-NZ5) exhibited better catalytic performance compared to the impregnated samples, and the highest aromatic yield (i.e., 65.4 wt%) was achieved over the Ga4.2-NZ5 sample, which contained with the highest Ga content.     

Visible-light-responsive photocatalytic reaction on tetrahedrally-coordinated chromium oxide moieties loaded on ZSM-5 zeolites and HMS mesoporous silica: partial oxidation of propane

Chromium oxide (Cr-oxide) moieties loaded on ZSM-5 zeolites and HMS mesoporous silica molecular sieves were prepared by an impregnation method and characterized by various spectroscopic methods (XRD, XAFS, UV-Vis, photoluminescence) and their photocatalytic reactivities for partial oxidation of propane under visible light irradiation were investigated. The local structure of Cr-oxide species depended to a large extent on the zeolite types and Si/A1 ratios of zeolites. Tetrahedrally-coordinated isolated Cr-oxide moieties can be loaded on HMS and ZSM-5 having the higher Si/A1 ratios. On these catalysts, in the presence of propane and O₂, a partial oxidation proceeded under visible light irradiation to produce acetone with high selectivity. The charge-transfer excited state of the tetrahedral Cr-oxide moieties plays a significant role in the selective photocatalytic reactions under visible light irradiation.     

A comparative study of the effects of decomposition rate control and mechanical grinding on the thermal decomposition of aluminum hydroxide

Summary Two different processes of the thermal decomposition of synthetic bayerite, i.e., the non-isothermal decomposition of mechanically ground sample in flowing N₂ and the controlled rate thermal decomposition of crystalline bayerite under vacuum, were investigated comparatively. In comparison with the conventional non-isothermal decomposition of crystalline bayerite in flowing N₂, the reaction temperature of the thermal decomposition was lowered by the individual effects of mechanical grinding of the sample and the reaction rate control. These decomposition processes indicated similar behavior characterized by the restricted changes of the specific surface area during the course of decomposition reaction and the formation of an amorphous alumina as the decomposition product. Different thermal behaviors were observed for those amorphous Al₂O₃ produced by the respective decomposition processes.