One-step synthesis of hydrothermally stable mesoporous aluminosilicates with strong acidity

Using tetraethylorthosilicate (TEOS), polymethylhydrosiloxane (PMHS) and aluminium isopropoxide (AIP) as the reactants, through a one-step nonsurfactant route based on PMHS-TEOS-AIP co-polycondensation, hydrothermally stable mesoporous aluminosilicates with different Si/Al molar ratios were successfully prepared. All samples exclusively showed narrow pore size distribution centered at 3.6 nm. To assess the hydrothermal stability, samples were subjected to 100 °C distilled water for 300 h. The boiled mesoporous aluminosilicates have nearly the same N₂ adsorption-desorption isotherms and the same pore size distributions as those newly synthesized ones, indicating excellent hydrothermal stability. The ²⁹Si MAS NMR spectra confirmed that PMHS and TEOS have jointly condensed and CH₃ groups have been introduced into the materials. The ²⁷Al MAS NMR spectra indicated that Al atoms have been incorporated in the mesopore frameworks. The NH₃ temperature-programmed desorption showed strong acidity. Due to the existence of large amount of CH₃ groups, the mesoporous aluminosilicates obtained good hydrophobicity. Owing to the relatively large pore and the strong acidity provided by the uniform four-coordinated Al atoms, the excellent catalytic performance for 1,3,5-triisopropylbenzene cracking was acquired easily. The materials may be a profitable complement for the synthesis of solid acid catalysts.     

Sol–gel preparation of mesoporous Al2O3–SiO2 glasses: structural evolution monitored by solid state NMR

Glasses along the composition line 0.5Al₂O₃–xSiO₂ (1 ≤ x ≤ 6) were prepared via a novel sol–gel route using tetraethylorthosilicate and aluminum lactate as precursors. The structural evolution from solution to gel to glass is monitored by standard ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopies, revealing important insights about molecular level mechanisms occurring at the various stages of glass formation. Under the experimental conditions reported, silica and alumina precursors undergo homoatomic condensation processes when the gel is heat treated at about 100 and 300 °C, respectively, and only little heteroatomic co-condensation occurs in this temperature range. The latter is promoted only upon elimination of the residual lactate and water ligands upon annealing the gels above 300 °C. Following calcination at 650 °C, mesoporous glasses are obtained, having average pore diameter of about 3 nm and a surface areas near 500 m²/g. Si–O–Al connectivities are detected by ²⁹Si magic angle spinning (MAS)-NMR. ²⁷Al MAS-NMR spectra reveal aluminum in four-, five- and six-coordination. The spectra differ significantly from those of other sol–gel derived Al₂O₃–SiO₂ materials prepared from different precursor routes, suggesting that the lactate route results in a higher degree of compositional homogeneity.     

CTAB-assisted fabrication of mesoporous composite consisting of wormlike aluminosilicate shell and ordered MSU-S core

Novel mesoporous composites comprised of aluminosilicate shell with wormhole framework structure and well-ordered MSU-S core have been firstly prepared via treatment of MSU-S with NaAlO₂ solution in the presence of cationic surfactant cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). The obtained products were thoroughly characterized by XRD, HRTEM, N₂ sorption isotherm, TG-DSC, ²⁷Al MAS NMR and ²⁹Si MAS NMR, etc. Characterization results based on these techniques revealed that the introduction of CTAB during the treatment process played a crucial role in the formation of mesoporous composite, otherwise the parent ordered MSU-S would be completely destroyed. Furthermore, aluminum content in the final product determined by ICP and EDAX was significantly increased compared to the parent MSU-S, thus assuming that CTAB added in this modification process led a key role in the introduction of Al into the final solid via self-assembly with additionally added AlO₂⁻ and partly dissolved silicate species from the parent MSU-S particles. In addition, acidity and catalytic performance of the prepared mesoporous composite were also substantially improved in comparison to the parent MSU-S sample.     

Characterization and acidic properties of Al-SBA-15 materials prepared by post-synthesis alumination of a low-cost ordered mesoporous silica

A series of Al-containing SBA-15 type materials with different Si/Al ratio, were prepared by post-synthesis modification of a pure highly ordered mesoporous silica SBA-15 obtained by using sodium silicate as silica source, and amphiphilic block copolymer as structure-directing agent. A high level of aluminum incorporation was achieved, reaching an Si/Al ratio of up to 5.5, without any significant loss in the textural properties of SBA-15. These materials were fully characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ²⁷Al NMR spectroscopy, and N₂ adsorption at 77 K. The acid properties of these materials have been evaluated by NH₃-TPD, adsorption of pyridine and deuterated acetonitrile coupled to FTIR spectroscopy. The effective acidity of these materials was evaluated using two catalytic reactions: 2-propanol dehydrogenation and 1-butene isomerization. The adsorption of basic probe molecules and the catalytic behavior revealed an evolution of the acid properties with the Al content. These studies have shown that the Al-SBA-15 materials contain Brønsted and Lewis acid sites with medium acidity which makes them appropriate to be used as acid catalysts in heterogeneous catalysis, catalytic supports, and adsorbents.     

介孔硅铝酸盐的合成及其在傅克反应中的催化性能

采用溶胶凝胶法合成了一系列有序性好且酸性较强的介孔硅铝酸盐材料。利用X射线粉末衍射(XRD)、透射电镜(TEM)、27Al核磁共振(27Al NMR)、氨气程序升温脱附(HN3-TPD)及吡啶吸附红外光谱(Py-FT-IR)对制备的介孔硅铝酸盐材料的结构和性能进行表征,并考察了材料在苯甲醚和苯甲醇的傅克烷基化反应中的催化活性。实验结果表明:合成过程中,表面活性剂的用量、硅铝物质的量之比会影响材料结构的有序性,醋酸用量对材料结构有序性影响很小;进一步研究结果表明,nSi/nAl比会影响材料的酸催化活性,当nSi/nAl=10时材料的酸催化活性最高。氨气程序升温脱附和吡啶吸附红外光谱表明nSi/nAl=10的材料含有最多的B酸酸量。     

Catalytic Disproportionation of Methyltrichlorosilane by AL-MCM-41 to Prepare Dichlorodimethylsilane

Abstract

Al-MCM-41 samples with various Si/Al ratios were prepared and then used to disproportionate methyltrichlorosilane (MTS) to produce dichlorodimethylsilane (DMCS). The catalysts were characterized by FT-IR, X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), ²⁷Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (²⁷Al MAS NMR), inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES), and N₂ absorption–desorption. It reveals that all samples show the hexagonal structure of MCM-41 and exhibit large BET surface areas (over 842 m²·g^?1). FT-IR spectra of pyridine adsorption demonstrates that Al-MCM-41 samples have Lewis (L) and Brønsted (B) acidic sites, and the B acidic sites are stable in the temperature ranging from 423 to 623 K. The effects of aluminum content and temperature on the disproportionation reaction were also investigated. The results show that the Al-MCM-41 with the Si/Al ratio of 15:1 exhibits an excellent activity with 100% conversion of MTS and 47% selectivity of DMCS at 623 K under atmospheric pressure.     

介孔调变对CuY催化剂甲醇氧化羰基化反应活性的影响

碱溶液处理NaY分子筛形成的介孔有利于反应物及产物分子的扩散,调节碱溶液浓度可控制Y分子筛中的介孔结构,通过溶液离子交换法制备CuY催化剂,研究了NaY分子筛介孔结构调变对CuY催化剂催化甲醇氧化羰基化反应活性的影响。通过BET、~(29)Si-NMR、XRD、NH_3/CO-TPD、H_2-TPR和TEM等表征及催化活性分析表明,在碱溶液处理过程中,NaY分子筛骨架中的Si(0Al)和Si(1Al)原子被优先脱除,且笼结构坍塌使得临近超笼连接,逐步形成直径为3.47~3.66 nm,孔容介于0.142~0.226cm~3·g~(-1)的介孔,在提高反应物分子和产物分子扩散性能的同时,提高了活性物种的可接近性。随着碱液浓度的增加,CuY催化剂的催化活性先升高后降低。当碱液浓度为0.2 mol·L~(-1)时,NaY分子筛介孔直径为3.47 nm,孔容达到最大(0.226 cm~3·g~(-1)),相应CuY催化剂DMC的时空收率、选择性和甲醇转化率分别达到204.0 mg·g~(-1)·h~(-1)、67.8%和14.0%,活性最佳。     

Liquid-phase synthesis of isopulegol from citronellal using mesoporous molecular sieves mcm-41 and zeolites

Isopulegol (IPG) was synthesized from citronellal (CTN) at atmospheric pressure and 40~60°C in a batch reactor by using mesoporous molecular sieves MCM-41 as well as zeolites HZSM-5 and Hβ. The catalysts were characterized by the methods of XRD, N₂ adsorption, ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR and TPD of ammonia. Under our reaction conditions, Al-MCM-41 was found to be the best catalyst; it exhibited much higher activity, despite slightly lower IPG selectivity. The catalytic results depend on a variety of factors, viz. the acidity, the pore size and the pore channel of catalysts. The reaction paths were proposed and the kinetic parameters for competitive first order reactions of CTN were estimated. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Iron(III) chloride supported on MCM-41 molecular sieve as a catalyst for the liquid-phase oxidation of phenol

FeCl₃ was supported on MCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieve via adsorption or coordination bonding and by embedding as an anionic constituent of covalently immobilized imidazolium ionic liquid (IL). The synthesized materials were characterized by N₂-BET, SEM, TEM, FT-IR, ¹H, ¹³C, and ²⁹Si NMR, and DSC-TG. All of the catalysts were shown to be active for the liquid-phase oxidation of phenol by hydrogen peroxide. Supported FeCl₃ species present as tetrachloroferrate counterions of immobilized IL are the most resistant to iron leaching.     

Synthesis and characterization of acidic properties of Al-HMS materials of varying Si/Al ratios

HMS and Al-HMS materials with Si/Al ratio in the range 5-45 were synthesized by neutral templating pathway. The as synthesized as well as calcined samples were examined for pore size distribution, surface area and XRD. These investigations confirmed the hexagonal mesoporous structure formation at all Si/Al ratios. The TGA measurements indicated that two types of template species interacting with Si or Al could be distinguished. The acidity and acid strength distribution studies using microcalorimetric NH₃ adsorption indicated that the acidity increases with Al content in the mesoporous structure. The presence of Al in the structure creates a wide variety of acid sites of varying strengths. The heterogeneity of the sites also increases with Al content of the catalysts. The activities for cumene cracking reaction to test acidity of the materials supported the trend obtained from microcalorimetric NH₃ adsorption results.     

Time‐Resolved In Situ MAS NMR Monitoring of the Nucleation and Growth of Zeolite BEA Catalysts under Hydrothermal Conditions

Time‐resolved ¹³C, ²³Na, ²⁷Al, and ²⁹Si MAS NMR has been applied in situ for monitoring the hydrothermal synthesis of zeolite BEA. Isotopic labelling with ²⁹Si and ¹³C isotopes has been used to follow the fate of siliceous species and structure directing agent ((¹³CH₃−CH₂)₄NOH). Two mechanistic pathways, namely solution‐mediated and solid–solid hydrogel rearrangement have been distinguished for two synthesis procedures studied. The mechanisms of structure‐directing behavior of TEA⁺ cations in two reaction pathways have been elucidated. The results show that multinuclear MAS NMR can serve as a superior tool for monitoring hydrothermal synthesis of various solids including zeolites, zeotypes, mesoporous materials, metal–organic frameworks and so on and for the design of novel outstanding materials for different applications.     

A novel method for synthesis of mesoporous ZSM-5 from iron ore tailings

Mesoporous ZSM-5 was prepared from iron ore tailings (IOT) using a two-step process. Mesoporous MCM-41 was first synthesized using cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB) as mesoporous template and IOT as silica source. The CTAB in the as-synthesized MCM-41 was used as the mesoporogen to produce the mesoporous ZSM-5, by recrystallizing the amorphous walls of MCM-41 with tetrapropylammonium bromide (TPABr) as the structure-directing agent via solid-phase conversion. To evaluate the textural properties of mesoporous ZSM-5, the as-synthesized samples were characterized using x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, ²⁹Si, ²⁷Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, and nitrogen adsorption. The results show that phase separation between the surfactant and zeolite crystals was avoided in the solid-phase conversion process, which transforms the as-synthesized MCM-41 to mesoporous zeolite. Therefore, the synthetic route presented herein provides a novel method for the synthesis of mesoporous ZSM-5 from IOT.

     

Cooperative Acid–Base Effects with Functionalized Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles: Applications in Carbon–Carbon Bond‐Formation Reactions

Acid–base bifunctional mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSN) were prepared by a one‐step synthesis by co‐condensation of tetraethoxysilane (TEOS) and silanes possessing amino and/or sulfonic acid groups. Both the functionality and morphology of the particles can be controlled. The grafted functional groups were characterized by using solid‐state ²⁹Si and ¹³C cross‐polarization/magic angle spinning (CP/MAS) NMR spectroscopy, thermal analysis, and elemental analysis, whereas the structural and the morphological features of the materials were evaluated by using XRD and N₂ adsorption–desorption analyses, and SEM imaging. The catalytic activities of the mono‐ and bifunctional mesoporous hybrid materials were evaluated in carbon–carbon coupling reactions like the nitroaldol reaction and the one‐pot deacetalization–nitroaldol and deacetalization–aldol reactions. Among all the catalysts evaluated, the bifunctional sample containing amine and sulfonic acid groups (MSN–NNH₂–SO₃H) showed excellent catalytic activity, whereas the homogeneous catalysts were unable to initiate the reaction due to their mutual neutralization in solution. Therefore a cooperative acid–base activation is envisaged for the carbon–carbon coupling reactions.     

Beckmann rearrangement of cyclohexanone oxime to ε-caprolactam using mesoporous molecular sieves ALSBA-15

Vapor-phase synthesis of ε-caprolactam (ε-C) from cyclohexanone-oxime (CHO) has been studied at 300-400^oC and atmospheric pressure using AlSBA-15(X) catalysts with different Si/Al mol ratios X in a fixed-bed, integral-flow reactor. The catalysts were characterized with ICP-AES, XRD, TEM, N₂ adsorption, ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si MAS-NMR, FT-IR and TPD of ammonia. A decrease of X value in AlSBA-15(X) diminishes both the BET surface area and the unit cell length but enhances the acid amount. The catalytic activity correlates with the catalyst acidity. AlSBA-15(10) exhibits excellent catalytic performance. This revised version was published online in June 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Catalytic activity of palladium supported on mesoporous modified Y-zeolite in methane combustion

Palladium-based catalysts were prepared by the ion-exchange method with dealuminated HY zeolite as support. The support dealumination was realised using acid solution of HNO₃, HCl or H₂SiF₆. The high activity of prepared catalysts for methane combustion was observed. This activity was dependent on the Al concentration, structural and textural properties of the support changed after the dealumination. Especially, Pd loaded on supports developing a second pore system, and having the highest Si/Al ratio, was more active than that on unmodified supports. It was also expected that the active sites in the methane combustion, which are suspected to be PdO, were influenced by the acidic properties of the support.     

Solid-state Al and Si NMR characterization of hydrates formed in calcium aluminate-silica fume mixtures

Partially deuterated Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_y(OH)_12−4y-Al(OH)₃ mixtures, prepared by hydration of Ca₃Al₂O₆ (C₃A), Ca₁₂Al₁₄O₃₃ (C₁₂A₇) and CaAl₂O₄ (CA) phases in the presence of silica fume, have been characterized by ²⁹Si and ²⁷Al magic-angle spinning-nuclear magnetic resonance (MAS-NMR) spectroscopies. NMR spectroscopy was used to characterize anhydrous and fully hydrated samples. In hydrated compounds, Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂ and Al(OH)₃ phases were detected. From the quantitative analysis of ²⁷Al NMR signals, the Al(OH)₃/Ca₃Al₂(OH)₁₂ ratio was deduced. The incorporation of Si into the katoite structure, Ca₃Al₂(SiO₄)_3−x(OH)_4x, was followed by ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopies. Si/OH ratios were determined from the quantitative analysis of ²⁷Al MAS-NMR components associated with Al(OH)₆ and Al(OSi)(OH)₅ environments. The ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy was also used to quantify the unreacted silica and amorphous calcium aluminosilicate hydrates formed, C-S-H and C-A-S-H for short. From ²⁹Si NMR spectra, the amount of Si incorporated into different phases was estimated. Si and Al concentrations, deduced by NMR, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectrometry, and Rietveld analysis of both X-ray and neutron data, indicate that only a part of available Si is incorporated in katoite structures.     

Evolution of the Texture and Structure of SiO2–Al2O3 Xerogels and Aerogels as a Function of the Si to Al Molar Ratio

SiO₂–Al₂O₃ aerogels and xerogels with a Si to Al molar ratio r _Si/Al varying from 0.25 to 20, were made by sol-gel process in acidic conditions at pH 2 and respectively dried by the CO₂ supercritical method and by solvent evaporation. The Al precursor was also chelated with ethylacetoacetate, which made it possible to study the structure and texture of such gels in conditions favorable to the formation of mixed Al–O–Si bonds. Nitrogen adsorption isotherms according to the Brunauer, Emmett and Teller method (BET), ²⁷Al magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (²⁷Al MAS-NMR), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Infrared absorbance spectra after Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) of pyridine, showed that the Si–O infrared asymmetric stretching vibration and the Bronsted acidity relative to the Lewis acidity, depended on the ratio of Al^IV to Si atoms.     

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.     

Synthesis and Characterization of the Titanium Containing Mesoporous Molecular Sieve MCM-48

Ti-MCM-48 mesoporous materials have been synthesized by sequential addition of alkoxides. The atomic ratio of Si and Ti in the synthesis gel was 40 and 5, respectively. The materials were characterized by means of powder XRD, N₂ adsorption-desorption measurements. HREM, ²⁹Si MAS NMR, diffuse reflectance FT-IR spectroscopy, electrophoretic mobility measurements and electron probe microanalysis.     

Magic-Angle-Spinning NMR (MAS-NMR) Spectroscopy and the Structure of Zeolites

After outlining the chemical features and properties which make zeolites such an important group of catalysts and sorbents, the article explains how high-resolution solid-state NMR with magic-angle spinning reveals numerous new insights into their structure. ²⁹Si-MAS-NMR readily and quantitatively identifies five distinct Si(OAl)_n(OSi)_4-n structural groups in zeolitic frameworks (n = 0, 1,….4), corresponding to the first tetrahedral coordination shell of a silicon atom. Many catalytic and other chemical properties of zeolites are governed by the short-range Si, Al order, the nature of which is greatly clarified by ²⁹Si-MAS-NMR. It is shown that, as expected from Pauling's electroneutrality principle and Loewenstein's rule, both in zeolite X and in zeolite A (with Si/Al = 1.00) there are no ? Al? O? Al? linkages. In zeolite A and zeolite X with Si/Al = 1.00 there is strict alternation of Si and Al on the tetrahedral sites. Ordering models for Si/Al ratios up to 5.00 (in zeolite Y) may also be evaluated by a combination of MAS-NMR experiments and computational procedures. ²⁹Si-MAS-NMR spectra reveal the presence of numerous crystallographically distinct Si(OSi)₄ sites in silicalite/ZSM-5, suggesting that the correct space group for these related porosilicates is not Pnma. ²⁷Al-MAS-NMR clearly distinguishes tetrahedrally and octahedrally coordinated aluminum, proving that, contrary to earlier claims, Al in silicalite is tetrahedrally substituted within the framework. In combination, ²⁹Si- and ²⁷Al-MAS-NMR is a powerful tool for monitoring the course of solid-state processes (such as ultrastabilization of synthetic faujasites) and of gas-solid reactions (dealumination of zeolites with silicon tetrachloride vapor at elevated temperatures). They also permit the quantitative determination of framework Si/Al ratios in the region 1.00 < Si/Al < 10 000. Since most elements in the periodic table may be accommodated within zeolite structures, either as part of the exchangeable cations or as building units of the anionic framework, there is immense scope for investigation by MAS-NMR and its variants (cross-polarization, multiple pulse and variable-angle spinning) of bulk, surface and chemical properties. Some of the directions in which future research in zeolite science may proceed are adumbrated.