Effect of thermal treatment on the structure and texture of differently impregnated NiO/SiO2 catalysts

NiO/SiO₂ catalysts were prepared with Ni contents ranging from 2–15% using a microporous silica support at pH ~11.5. The role of the method of preparation on the resulting catalyst is also investigated. Structural and textural changes were followed using X-ray diffraction, TG and DTA techniques—the surface area measurements were carried out on the parent catalysts and those produced in the temperature range 250–1000°C.Impregnation of the silica gel in the nickel ammine complex solution (catalyst series 1N–4N) with subsequent drying at 80°C overnight produced crystalline catalysts with two distinct peaks at d-spacings of 2.035 and 2.349 Å resulting from a surface silicate. This is easily destroyed by thermal treatment at 250°C for Ni contents ? 10% but is stable to this temperature for the higher Ni content. Drying the catalyst at room temperature (3N_b) gives rise to an amorphous product. A non-crystalline catalyst is also obtained when concentrated ammonia solution is added to the adsorbed nickel salt (3N_c). At high Ni content, the hydroxo ligand becomes significant and results in a surface compound in which one silanol group is attacked. This gives rise to a crystalline product at 500°C with characteristic d-spacings at 2.201 and 2.049 Å which, subsequently, produces a poorly crystalline NiO product at 1000°C. The presence of this hydroxo ligand is manifested by a small endotherm at 260°C.At Ni contents below 15% but greater than 2% a small exotherm is observed at ~ 500°C resulting from a reduction process. Entrained SO₄^2? ions present as an impurity are evolved at temperatures & > 750°C and can be estimated by TG analysis.The specific surface area decreases with Ni contents ? 5% but increases for higher Ni contents. Catalyst samples containing 15% Ni possess the highest specific area at all temperatures.Pore structure analysis showed that microporosity increased with increase in Ni content for the catalyst series 1N–4N. Samples from preparations 3N_b and 3N_c showed more mesoporosity than that of 3N. Thermal treatment causes widening of the pores for catalysts 1N–3N becoming predominantly mesoporous, co-existing with some micropores. Catalyst samples with 15% Ni remained predominantly microporous-mesoporosity increasing only at 1000°C.     

Investigation on catalyzed combustion of wheat straw by thermal analysis

Combustion of wheat straw incorporating TiO₂, CuO and MnO₂ was investigated by means of thermal analysis carried out at 20 °C/min in the temperature range from 50 °C to 900 °C. Combustion characteristic indexes had been put forward to describe wheat straw combustion characteristics. All the results showed that the catalysis of the catalysts to the wheat straw combustion had been embodied in facilitation of the volatile matters release from wheat straw, which reduced the temperature of the maximum combustion rate, and the relative active sequence of catalysts to the ignition characteristic could be improved remarkably. The catalysis of different catalysts to the Devolatilization Index could be described as follows: MnO₂ > TiO₂ > CuO, and the relative active sequence of catalysts to the Combustion Characteristic Index could be described as follows: CuO > TiO₂ > MnO₂.     

Water splitting as a tool for obtaining insight into metal–support interactions in catalysis

This review is focused on the use of the water splitting reaction for characterizing oxygen vacancies in supported metal catalysts and more generally to get insight into the high-temperature modifications of metal–support interactions. Three supports widely used in catalysis are considered, namely alumina, silica and ceria. The catalysts were reduced at temperatures T_R ranging from 200 to 1000 °C. The reaction with water was carried out at temperatures T_OX ranging from 100 to 1000 °C. In every case, the metal (Rh or Pt) was chosen among those which are not oxidizable by water. Extensive investigations of the reactivity of water with unsupported metals and films confirmed this choice. The reaction is then selective for the titration of O vacancies, generally associated with reduced cations of the support. On alumina-supported catalysts, reduction at T_R > 600 °C leads to the formation of oxygen vacancies strictly confined to the periphery of metal particles. The amount of hydrogen produced Q_H is coherent with the peripheral oxygen density. Reduction of silica-supported catalysts at T_R > 600 °C generates metal silicides that can be selectively destroyed by water with reformation of silica and metal nanoparticles. Oxygen vacancies are formed on ceria catalysts at 200 °C. These oxygen vacancies are confined to the surface up to 600 °C. At higher temperatures, oxygen vacancies are formed in the bulk: about 50% of CeO₂ would be reduced at 900 °C. The amount of H₂ produced by reaction with water is thus very high on metal-ceria catalysts. At T_R > 900 °C, metal cerides start to form. Remarkably, a significant reactivity of H₂O on a Rh/CeO₂ catalyst reduced at 850 °C is recorded as of 100 °C. However, the quantitative titration of oxygen vacancies required temperatures T_OX > 500 °C. As a rule, the technique of water splitting allows the detection of 1 μmol g⁻¹ of oxygen vacancies, i.e. a few 0.1% of the surface in the case of reducible oxides of 10–20 m² g⁻¹.     

Effect of the microstructure of the supported catalysts CuO/TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CuO/(CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript>-TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>) on their catalytic properties in carbon monoxide oxidation

The effect of the microstructure of titanium dioxide on the structure, thermal stability, and catalytic properties of supported CuO/TiO₂ and CuO/(CeO₂-TiO₂) catalysts in CO oxidation was studied. The formation of a nanocrystalline structure was found in the CuO/TiO₂ catalysts calcined at 500°C. This nanocrystalline structure consisted of aggregated fine anatase particles about 10 nm in size and interblock boundaries between them, in which Cu²⁺ ions were stabilized. Heat treatment of this catalyst at 700°C led to a change in its microstructure with the formation of fine CuO particles 2.5–3 nm in size, which were strongly bound to the surface of TiO₂ (anatase) with a regular well-ordered crystal structure. In the CuO/(CeO₂-TiO₂) catalysts, the nanocrystalline structure of anatase was thermally more stable than in the CuO/TiO₂ catalyst, and it persisted up to 700°C. The study of the catalytic properties of the resulting catalysts showed that the CuO/(CeO₂-TiO₂) catalysts with the nanocrystalline structure of anatase were characterized by the high-est activity in CO oxidation to CO₂.     

Textural,structural and catalytic behavior of low specific area silica-supported copper catalysts: effect of preparation method

Supported copper catalysts on low surface area silica were prepared by several methods and characterized by AAS, XRD, N₂ adsorption, SEM, H₂-TPR, N₂O titration, TGA-DTA, UV–Vis techniques. Their hydrogenating properties were examined in the gas-phase hydrogenation of benzaldehyde. The analysis of characterization results revealed that the choice of preparation method affected the texture, composition, and structure of the calcined and reduced Cu/SiO₂ catalysts. The dispersion and size distribution of copper species was present in different forms in the catalysts that exhibited low specific surface areas. In gas-phase hydrogenation of benzaldehyde to benzyl alcohol, the catalysts tested at the reaction temperatures of 160 and 200 °C were stable and conducted to a good catalytic activity and benzyl alcohol selectivity ranging between 5 and 39 µmol min^?1 g^?1 and 0–95%, respectively. The activity of the catalysts in gas-phase hydrogenation also depended on the particle size and the nature of copper species formed on low surface area silica.     

The Production of Ultrafine Silica Powders from Silicon Tetrachloride: Control of the Primary Particle Size

Ultra fine silica powders were prepared by hydrolysis of SiCl₄ using aqueous ammonia solution followed by supercritical drying. Using different methods of combining the SiCl₄ and ammonia solution, to vary the initial and final pH of the solution, large silica powders surface areas (271–905 m²/g), fine average particle diameters (3.5–17) nm and low tapping densities (0.02–0.05 g/cm²) could be prepared. Powders with characteristics similar to pyrogenic silica, and with similar thermal stability at temperatures up to 1000°C, could be produced.     

Three-dimensionally ordered macroporous metal oxide–silica composite for removal of mercaptan

A series of 3DOM and non-3DOM metal oxide–silica composites were prepared and tested dynamically in a packed-bed reactor at room temperature to remove ethanethiol from a gas stream containing ethyl mercaptan in moist N_2.The obtained sorbents were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and nitrogen adsorption–desorption techniques. The experimental results showed that the adsorption ability of different kinds of metal oxide–silica composites with 3DOM structure decreased in the sequence: 3D-CuO/SiO₂ > 3D-NiO/SiO₂ > 3D-Co₃O₄/SiO₂ > 3D-ZnO/SiO₂. The best ratio of CuO to SiO₂ of 3DOM copper–silicon oxide sorbents for ethanethiol removal was found to be 1:2. The 3DOM structure could improve the removal activity of sorbents remarkably because of the high porosity with ordered interconnected macropores as well as the large surface area and high dispersion of CuO. It was also found that a moist atmosphere greatly benefited the adsorption of ethanethiol at ambient condition.     

Effect of heating on speciation of copper in Si/Al/Ca-based environmental matrices

X-ray absorption spectroscopy is used to investigate the speciation of sorbed copper in heated fly ash. CuO and Cu(OH)₂ are determined to be the principal copper species in the Cu-sorbing fly ash heated at 500 °C for 2 h. Heating the Cu-sorbing fly ash to 900 °C or 1100 °C can result in the formation of CuSO₄, representing 41% and 32% of the total copper, respectively. Ash sintering and/or co-melting at 900 and 1100 °C occur, thereby triggering chemical reaction between CuO/Cu(OH)₂ and sulfur compounds.     

Effect of autoclaving on zinc oxide in the presence of sulphate ions

The effect of autoclaving a zinc oxide preparation containing SO^2?₄ under 5 and 10 atmospheres is studied by combining X-ray diffraction, differential thermal analysis, thermogravimetry and IR spectroscopy. Textural measurements are also carried out on the parent samples and those produced in the temperature range 200–1000°C.A new phase of a basic carbonates?ulphate, including ammonia in its coordination shell, is observed in the original preparation and having its d distances at 11.060, 8.954 and 2.714 Å. This is transformed to another phase at ～180°C which is also the main phase characterizing the autoclaved samples, and belongs to a basic zinc oxide—sulphate possessing d distances at 7.055, 2.468 and 2.805 Å. Autoclaving the oxide preparation under 10 atm gives hexagonal zinc oxide of high purity and crystallinity at 1000°C. An empirical formula is given for the oxide preparation which describes the different decomposition stages observed. At ～390°C, a reversible reduction process comprising oxygen evolution is observed.Autoclaving increases the area of the parent oxide and at temperatures below 600°C is a function of the structural changes. The autoclaving pressure is insignificant ?600°C.Pore structure analysis showed all the samples to be predominantly mesoporous, coexisting with some micropores except that autoclaved under 5 atm and heated at 250°C which is predominantly microporous. Autoclaving under 5 atm causes narrowing of the pores for products below 600°C. Autoclaving has little effect on the average pore radius ?600°C.Evaluation of the average pore radius from the constructed t-curves for parallel-plate pore idealization is discussed.     

Solid-state reactions in the system Cu—Sb—O; Formation of a new copper(I) antimony oxide

The solid-state reactions in the system Cu—Sb—O were investigated by thermogravimetry and X-ray diffraction. Equimolar mixtures of CuO and Sb₂O₃ form Cu(II)Sb₂O₆ when slowly heated in air up to 1000°C. The firt step in this reaction is the oxidation of Sb₂O₃ to Sb₂O₄ at 380–500°C, followed by further oxidation of Sb₂O₄ and the formation of CuSb₂O₆ at 500–1000°C. Thermal decomposition of CuSb₂O₆ in a flowing nitrogen atmosphere occurs in three stages; the first, with an activation energy of 356 kJ mole^?1, results in the formation of a new copper(I) antimony oxide, with a composition of Cu₄SbO_4.5, as determined by atomic absorption analysis and X-ray fluoresecence. Confirmation of predominantly monovalent copper and pentavalent antimony in the new compound was by ESR and ESCA, respectively. Two forms of Cu₄SbO_4.5 have been distinguished; one of these (form II) has a structure of lower symmetry, and decomposes when heated in air at 600°C to a mixture of CuO and another new copper antimony oxide, as yet uncharacterized. On further heating to 1100°C in air, Cu₄SbO_4.5 (form I) gradually reforms. Details of these reactions are summarized and X-ray powder data presented for Cu₄SbO_4.5.     

Thermal and X-ray diffraction studies of the solid–solid interactions in CuO–MoO3/MgO system

The solid–solid interactions in pure and MoO₃-doped CuO/MgO system were investigated using TG, DTA and XRD. The composition of pure mixed solids were 0.1CuO/MgO, 0.2CuO/MgO and 0.3CuO/MgO and the concentrations of MoO₃ were 2.5 and 5 mol%. These solids were prepared by wet impregnation of finely powdered basic magnesium carbonate with solutions containing calculated amounts of copper nitrate and ammonium molybdate followed by heating at 400–1000°C. The results revealed that ammonium molybdate doping of the system investigated enhanced the thermal decomposition of copper nitrate and magnesium hydroxide which decomposed at temperatures lower than those observed in case of the undoped mixed solids by 70 and 100°C, respectively. A portion of CuO present dissolved in the lattice of MgO forming CuO–MgO solid solution with subsequent limited increase in its lattice parameter. The other portion interacted readily with a portion of MoO₃ at temperatures starting from 400°C yielding CuMoO₄ which remained stable up to 1000°C. The other portion of MoO₃ interacted with MgO producing MgMoO₄ at temperatures starting from 400°C and remained also stable at 1000°C. The diffraction peaks of Cu₂MgO₃ phase were detected in the diffractograms of pure and MoO₃-doped 0.3CuO/MgO precalcined at 1000°C. The formation of this phase was accompanied by an endothermic peak at 930°C.     

Enhanced Thermal Decomposition Properties and Catalytic Mechanism of Ammonium Perchlorate over CuO/MoS2 Composite

In this report, CuO/MoS₂ composites were successfully prepared by the hydrothermal method where nano‐sized CuO was uniformly distributed on the surface of hierarchical MoS₂ substrates (CuO/MoS₂ composites). Their physicochemical properties and catalytic performance in ammonium perchlorate (AP) decomposition were investigated and characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, BET, XPS, TG/DSC and combustion measurement. The results showed that it could decrease AP decomposition temperature at high decomposition stage from 416.5 °C to 323.5 °C and increase the heat release from 378 J/g (pure AP) to 1340 J/g (AP with catalysts), which was better than pure CuO nanoparticles (345.5 °C and 1046 J/g). Meanwhile, it showed excellent performance in combustion reaction either in N₂ or air atmosphere. The results obtained by photocurrent spectra, photoluminescence spectra and time‐resolved fluorescence emission spectra indicated that loading CuO mediated the generation rate and combination rate of electrons and holes, thus tuning the catalytic performance on AP decomposition. This study proved that employing the supports that can synergistically interact with CuO is an efficient strategy to enhance the catalytic performance of CuO.     

Mechanism of CO oxidation in excess H2 over CuO/CeO2 catalysts: ESR and TPD studies

The oxidation of CO with oxygen over (0.25–6.4)% CuO/CeO₂ catalysts in excess H₂ is studied. CO conversion increases and the temperature range of the reaction decreases by 100 K as the CuO content is raised. The maximal CO conversion, 98.5%, is achieved on 6.4% CuO/CeO₂ at 150°C. At T > 150°C, the CO conversion decreases as a result of the deactivation of part of the active sites because of the dissociative adsorption of hydrogen. CO is efficiently adsorbed on the oxidized catalyst to form CO-Cu⁺ carbonyls on Cu₂O clusters and is oxidized by the oxygen of these clusters, whereas it is neither adsorbed nor oxidized on Cu⁰ of the reduced catalysts. The activity of the catalysts is recovered after the dissociative adsorption of O₂ on Cu⁰ at T ～ 150°C. The activation energies of CO, CO₂, and H₂O desorption are estimated, and the activation energy of CO adsorption yielding CO-Cu⁺ carbonyls is calculated in the framework of the Langmuir-Hinshelwood model.     

Catalysts based on cordierite modified with transition metal oxides

Catalysts active in ammonia oxidation have been obtained by the substitution of transition metal (Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, and Cu) ions for Mg ions in the cordierite structure 2MgO · 2Al₂O₃ · 5SiO₂ at 1100°C. Their phase composition, texture, and activity depend on the type and amount of introduced transition metal oxide. The Mn- and Cu-containing catalysts, which consist of substituted cordierites 2(Mg_{1 ? x} M _x )O · 2Al₂O₃ · 5SiO₂ and Mn₂O₃ or CuO crystallites located on their surface, are most active in ammonia oxidation. The catalysts are characterized by a small specific surface area and have large pores, whose total volume is small. The Fe-containing catalysts consist of the Fe-substituted cordierite phase and particles of an iron oxide phase. These particles are mostly located in internal pores of the catalysts and are, therefore, hardly accessible to ammonia molecules. The introduction of Co or Ni oxide leads to the formation of a low-active spinel phase rather than the cordierite phase.     

Co oxidation with oxygen in the presence of hydrogen on CoO/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> and CuO/CoO/CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> catalysts

The catalytic activity of the CoO/CeO₂ and CuO/CoO/CeO₂ systems in selective CO oxidation in the presence of hydrogen at 20–450°C ([CuO] = 1.0–2.5%, [CoO] = 1.0–7.0%) is reported. The maximum CO conversion (X) decreases in the following order: CuO/CoO/CeO₂ (X = 98–99%, T = 140–170°C) > CoO/CeO₂ (X = 67–84%, T = 230–240°C) > CeO₂ (X = 34%, T = 350°C). TPD, TPR, and EPR experiments have demonstrated that the high activity of CuO/CoO/CeO₂ is due to the strong interaction of the supported copper and cobalt oxides with cerium dioxide, which yields Cu-Co-Ce-O clusters on the surface. The carbonyl group in the complexes Co^δ+-CO and Cu⁺-CO is oxidized by oxygen of the Cu-Co-Ce-O clusters at 140–160°C and by oxygen of the Co-Ce-O clusters at 240°C. The decrease in the activity of the catalysts at high temperatures is due to the fact that hydrogen reduces the clusters on which CO oxidation takes place, yielding Co⁰ and Cu⁰ particles, which are inactive in CO oxidation. The hydrogenation of CO into methane at high temperatures is due to the appearance of Co⁰ particles in the catalysts.     

Effect of the condition of synthesis on the composition and structure of copper(II) complexes with benzimidazole

The composition and structure of copper(II) benzimidazole complexes obtained by the reaction of CuCl₂ with benzimidazole (BIm) were determined. At pH 4.5–5.5, depending on the reactant ratio, dimeric compounds with the composition Cu(BIm)₄Cl₂ · 2H₂O and Cu(BIm)₂Cl₂ · H₂O are formed. They are converted to monomers at about 200°C. At pH > 8, irrespective of the reactant ratio, the polymer (Cu(OH)L)n is formed. The complexation of copper(II) with benzimidazole in water and aqueous dioxane was studied by potentiometry, and the stability constants of the complex compounds and their dependence on the solvent composition were determined.     

Correlation between the basicity of Cu–M<Subscript>x</Subscript>O<Subscript>y</Subscript>–Al<Subscript>2</Subscript>O<Subscript>3</Subscript> (M = Ba,Mg, K or La) oxide and the catalytic performance in the glycerol conversion from adsorption microcalorimetry characterization

The synthesis of CuO species highly dispersed in M_xO_y–Al₂O₃ (M = Ba, Mg, K or La) basic supports was studied, and the catalytic proprieties of the solids in glycerol conversion to bioproducts were subsequently evaluated. A correlation between the copper oxide/catalytic support structure, specific surface area/porosity and the basicity (strength and amount of basic sites) of M_xO_y–Al₂O₃ (M = Ba, Mg, K or La) supports were observed through the following characterization techniques: XRD (structure), N₂ adsorption/desorption isotherms (surface area/porosity) and microcalorimetry of CO₂ adsorption (basicity). The XRD results of the different supports indicated that the basic species (BaO, MgO, K₂O or La₂O₃) are highly dispersed in the Al₂O₃ matrix. The XRD patterns of the Ba and K-containing solids combined with copper present a CuO and Al₂O₃ formation; however, an isolated CuO phase for the Mg and La-based catalysts is not observed, demonstrating that Cu species are highly dispersed in basic support. N₂ physisorption isotherms ascribed that most of the samples are mesoporous with a surface area between 26 and 178 m² g^?1, depending on the solid composition. Microcalorimetry of CO₂ adsorption presented the following basic strength using the first points of the adsorption heat: 10MgAl > 10LaAl > 10KAl > 10BaAl for the sample without copper and 5CuMgAl > 5CuKAl > 5CuLaAl > 5CuBaAl for the materials with Cu. The amount of basic site varies greatly depending on the type of basic metal used. The different materials without copper are practically inactive at the end of the reaction. However, the Cu-based solids are active and selective for the conversion of glycerol to acetol. The initial glycerol conversion and the catalyst stability are related to basic strength and amount of basic sites, respectively.     

Study on thermal decomposition of copper(II) acetate monohydrate in air

The thermal decomposition of copper(II) acetate monohydrate (CuAc₂·H₂O) under 500 °C in air was studied by TG/DTG, DTA, in situ FTIR and XRD experiments. The experimental results showed that the thermal decomposition of CuAc₂·H₂O under 500 °C in air included three main steps. CuAc₂·H₂O was dehydrated under 168 °C; CuAc₂ decomposed to initial solid products and volatile products at 168–302 °C; the initial solid products Cu and Cu₂O were oxidized to CuO in air at 302–500 °C. The copper acetate peroxides were found to form between 100 and 150 °C, and the dehydration of these peroxides resulted in the presence of CuAc₂·H₂O above 168 °C. The initial solid products were found to be the admixture of Cu, Cu₂O, and CuO, not simply the single Cu₂O as reported before. Detailed reactions involved in these three steps were proposed to describe the complete mechanism and course of the thermal decomposition of CuAc₂·H₂O in air.     

Effect of copper precursors on the catalytic activity of Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts for selective catalytic reduction of NO by NH<Subscript>3</Subscript>

The Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts prepared by different copper precursors were used for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO _x with NH₃. The Cu/ZSM-5 catalyst prepared by the copper nitrate (Cu/ZSM-5-N) presented the best performance among the Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts and showed above 90 % NO _x conversion at 225–405 °C. The average particle size of CuO was 5.82, 9.20, and 11.01 nm over Cu/ZSM-5-N, Cu/ZSM-5-S (prepared by copper sulfate), and Cu/ZSM-5-C (prepared by copper chloride), respectively. The Cu/ZSM-5-N catalyst showed the highly dispersed copper species, the strong surface acidity, and the excellent redox ability compared with the Cu/ZSM-5-C and Cu/ZSM-5-S catalysts. The Cu⁺ and Cu²⁺ existed in the Cu/ZSM-5 catalysts and the abundant Cu⁺ over Cu/ZSM-5-N might be responsible for the superior SCR activity.     

Mechanochemical Activation of Cu–CeO<Subscript>2</Subscript> Mixture as a Promising Technique for the Solid-State Synthesis of Catalysts for the Selective Oxidation of CO in the Presence of H<Subscript>2</Subscript>

A new ecologically clean method for the solid-phase synthesis of oxide copper–ceria catalysts with the use of the mechanochemical activation of a mixture of Cu powder (8 wt %) with CeO₂ was developed. It was established that metallic copper was oxidized by oxygen from CeO₂ in the course of mechanochemical activation. The intensity of a signal due to metallic Cu in the X-ray diffraction analysis spectra decreased with the duration of mechanochemical activation. The Cu¹⁺, Cu²⁺, and Ce³⁺ ions were detected on the sample surface by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The application of temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) made it possible to detect two active oxygen species in the reaction of CO oxidation in the regions of 190 and 210–220°C by a TPR-H₂ method and in the regions of 150 and 180–190°C by a TPR-CO method. It is likely that the former species occurred in the catalytically active nanocomposite surface structures containing Cu–O–Ce bonds, whereas the latter occurred in the finely dispersed particles of CuO on the surface of CeO₂. The maximum conversion of CO (98%, 165°C) reached by the mechanochemical activation of the sample for 60 min was almost the same as conversion on a supported CuO/CeO₂ catalyst.