Conversion of natural gas to C2 hydrocarbons through dielectric-barrier discharge plasma catalysis

The experiments are carried out in the system of continuous flow reactors with dielectric-barrier discharge (DBD) for studies on the conversion of natural gas to C₂ hydrocarbons through plasma catalysis under the atmosphere pressure and room temperature. The influence of discharge frequency, structure of electrode, discharge voltage, number of electrode, ratio of H₂/CH₄, flow rate and catalyst on conversion of methane and selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons are investigated. At the same time, the reaction process is investigated. Higher conversion of methane and selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons are achieved and deposited carbons are eliminated by proper choice of parameters. The appropriate operation parameters in dielectric-barrier discharge plasma field are that the supply voltage is 20–40 kV (8.4–40 W), the frequency of power supply is 20 kHz, the structure of (b) electrode is suitable, and the flow of methane is 20–60 mL · min⁻¹. The conversion of methane can reach 45%, the selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons is 76%, and the total selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons and C₃ hydrocarbons is nearly 100%. The conversion of methane increases with the increase of voltage and decreases with the flow of methane increase; the selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons decreases with the increase of voltage and increases with the flow of methane increase. The selectivity of C₂ hydrocarbons is improved with catalyst for conversion of natural gas to C₂ hydrocarbons in plasma field. Methane molecule collision with radicals is mainly responsible for product formation.     

Temperature dependence of the substrate selectivity in the hydroxylation of alkylbenzenes in the H2O2−H2SO4 system

The substrate selectivity in the hydroxylation of methylbenzenes in the H₂O₂−H₂SO₄ (70 wt.%) system was studied at 15–55 °C. The activation entropy correlates with the basicity of the arenes, while the substrate selectivity and activation enthalpy correspond both with the basicity and ionization potentials of ArH. We concluded that the structure of the reaction transition state is intermediate between a charge transfer complex and σ-complex. L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 70 R. Lyuksemburg ul., Donetsk 340114, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 35, No. 1, pp. 39–43, January–February, 1999.     

Combined transformations of carbon dioxide and ethanol in the presence of the intermetallic compound TiFe0.95Zr0.03Mo0.02, Pd/SiO2, and Al2O3

The influence of the composition of catalytic systems and the method for H₂ feed into the reaction area on the degree of conversion of CO₂ during its joint transformations with ethanol and on the selectivity of formation of liquid organic products (ethyl acetate, acetaldehyde, and hydrocarbons) was studied atp=15 atm andT=573 K. A noticeable conversion of CO₂ and ethanol into ethyl acetate and acetaldehyde was observed in the presence of only the intermetallic compound, its composition with a palladium-containing catalyst, and the whole ternary catalytic system. The selectivity of the reaction changed when the binary catalytic composition consisting of the intermetallic and γ-Al₂O₃ was used. In this case, the fraction of C₉–C₁₄ alkenes and alkenes with normal and iso structures was mostly formed; its content was as high as 40%. The degree of conversion of CO₂ reached 30–36% and the selectivity to liquid products was 70–80% only when the hydrogen desorbed from the intermetallic was used. Translated fromIzvestiya Akademii Nauk. Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1360–1364, July, 1998.     

Isothermal Reduction Behaviour of Some Metal Molybdates. Selective light alkane oxydehydrogenation and/or olefins partial oxidation

The reduction profile of several unpromoted and promoted metal molybdate catalysts was investigated correlating their reducibility with the reactivity in catalysis. Using the stoichiometric α- and β-nickel molybdate compounds it was observed that the reduction rate was significantly affected by the nature of the phase. The results show thatβ-NiMoO₄ phase led to a significant increase in the reduction rate with respect to α phase. The increased resistance to reduction by hydrogen due to the structure of the catalytic system is reported. It was found that there is a relationship between the reducibility of the catalysts and selectivity to dehydrogenation products, indicating that the lattice oxygen plays an important role in the reaction. The effect of MoO₃, TeO₂ and Te₂MoO₇ added to NiMoO₄ systems onthe reducibility of the catalyst and on the propylene oxidation were also studied. It wasobserved that the reduction rate was significantly affected by the nature of the doping element. The results show that NiMoO₄–MoO₃ combination led toa significant increase of the reduction resistance of the nickel molybdate while TeO₂ or Te₂MoO₇ addition increases its oxygen depletion rate.Ni–Mo–O systems (Mo/Ni>1) were found to favour low CO_x selectivity, high selectivity to C₃H₄O and C₃H₄O₂ and good propylene conversion. In presence of TeO₂ and Te₂MoO₇ doped Ni–Mo–O system both acrolein and propylene conversion were increased with respect to the undoped system. Ni–Mo–Te–O catalysts have been found to have a reducibility trend which fits well with the acrolein and acrylic acid formation from propylene oxidation in presence of molecular oxygen. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

The role of the geometric factor in the selective oxidation of lower paraffins at VPO catalysts

For the most widely published oxidation of n-butane at vanadium-phosphorus catalysts it was shown that the geometric factor plays a deciding role in the formation of the selective oxidation products. The mechanism proposed for the transformation of the paraffin at the [100] plane of the vanadyl pyrophosphate, which takes account of the geometry of the molecule being oxidized, explains the observed experimental facts, i.e., the increase in the oxidation rate with increase in the effective negative charge at the oxygen atoms of the catalyst, the positive effect of the hyperstoichiometric phosphorus on the selectivity of oxidation, the increased selectivity of oxidation with the introduction of additives that form phosphates, and the difference in the characteristics and mechanism of the oxidation of a paraffin and C₄ olefins. On the basis of the proposed mechanism suggestions are made about possible paths for the transofrmation of C₂−C₆ paraffins at VPO catalysts and the factors that could affect the selectivity of these processes. A number of the suggestions were confirmed by the author's own investigations and by published investigations. L. V. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 31 Prospekt Nauki, Kiev 252039, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 35, No. 5, pp. 265–276, September–October, 1999.     

Fischer–Tropsch Synthesis by Carbon Dioxide Hydrogenation on Fe-Based Catalysts

Impregnated and co-precipitated, promoted and unpromoted, bulk and supported iron catalysts were prepared, characterized, and subjected to hydrogenation of CO₂ at various pressures (1–2 MPa) and temperatures (573–673 K). Potassium, as an important promoter, enhanced the CO₂ uptake and selectivity towards olefins and long-chain hydrocarbons. Al₂O₃, when added as a structural promoter during co-precipitation, increased CO₂ conversion as well as selectivity to C₂₊ hydrocarbons. Among V, Cr, Mn and Zn promoters, Zn offered the highest selectivity to C₂–C₄ alkenes. The different episodes involved in the transformation of the catalyst before it reached steady-state were identified, on the co-precipitated catalyst. Using a biomass derived syngas (CO/CO₂/H₂), CO alone took part in hydrogenation. When enriched with H₂, CO₂ was also converted to hydrocarbons. The deactivation of impregnated Fe–K/Al₂O₃ catalyst was found to be due to carbon deposition, whereas that for the precipitated catalyst was due to increase in crystallinity of iron species. The suitability of SiO₂, TiO₂, Al₂O₃, HY and ion exchanged NaY as supports was examined for obtaining high activity and selectivity towards light olefins and C₂₊ hydrocarbons and found Al₂O₃ to be the best support. A comparative study with Co catalysts revealed the advantages of Fe catalysts for hydrocarbon production by F–T synthesis.     

Catalytic combustion of soot

The OCM reaction in the presence of HCl over NaCl−MnO/H−ZSM catalyst at 750°C has been studied. Effect of HCl partial pressure on the CH₄ conversion and selectivities to principal products, also on the time-on-stream of catalyst has been examined. Addition of HCl into initial methane-oxygen mixture can increase selectivity to C₂₊ formation and ethene selectivity, in particular. It seems that the time-on-stream of this catalyst is nearly 35–40 h in the presence of HCl.     

Kinetics, substrate selectivity and mechanisms of the first step in the oxidation of alkylbenzenes in the HVO3−H2SO4 system

The kinetics, kinetic isotope effects, and substrate selectivity were studied for the oxidation of alkylbenzenes in the HVO₃−H₂SO₄ system at 30°C. The reaction proceeds by an electrophilic substitution mechanism through a slow step involving formation of a charge transfer complex between the arene and VO ₂ ⁺ cation and is similar to nitration by the NO ₂ ⁺ cation. L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 70 R. Lyuksemburg ul., Donetsk 340114, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 35, No. 6, pp. 349–353, November–December, 1999.     

Spectral characteristics and redox behavior of the polynuclear managanese(III,IV) complex [Mn12O12(CH3COO)16(H2O)4] in liquid-phase oxidation of benzene

We have shown that benzene is oxidized to phenol by the polynuclear manganese complex [Mn₁₂O₁₂(CH₃COO)₁₆(H₂O)₄] in acetonitrile solution at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, with better than 80% selectivity. We have established that introduction of oxygen from the air into the reaction mixture as the reoxidant does not make it a catalytic process. L. V. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 31 Prospekt Nauki, Kiev 252039, Ukraine. Translated fromTeoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 35, No. 2, pp. 99–102, March–April, 1999.     

Destruction of Freon HFC-134a Using a Nozzleless Microwave Plasma Source

In this paper, results of the pyrolysis of Freon HFC-134a (tetrafluoroethane C₂H₂F₄) in an atmospheric pressure microwave plasma are presented. A waveguide-based nozzleless cylinder-type microwave plasma source (MPS) was used to produce plasma for the destruction of Freon HFC-134a. The processed gaseous Freon HFC-134a at a flow rate of 50–212 l min⁻¹ was introduced to the plasma by four gas ducts which formed a swirl flow in the plasma reactor (a quartz cylinder). The absorbed microwave power was 0.6–3 kW. The experimental results showed that the Freon was converted into carbon black, hydrogen and fluorine. The total conversion degree of HFC-134a was up to 84% with selectivity of 100% towards H₂, F₂ and C₂, which means that there was no conversion of HFC-134a into other hydrocarbons. The Freon destruction mass rate and corresponding energetic mass yield were up to 34.5 kg h⁻¹ and 34.4 kg per kWh of microwave energy absorbed by the plasma, respectively.     

Reactions of [Cp*Ru(H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O)(NBD)]<Superscript>+</Superscript> with diynes

Abstract  Formal [2 + 2 + 2] addition reaction of [Cp*Ru(H₂O)(NBD)][BF₄] (NBD = norbornadiene) with 4,4′-Diethynylbiphenyl generates [C₉H₉-η⁶-C₆H₄(RuCp*)–C₆H₄(RuCp*)-η⁶-C₉H₉][BF₄]₂. The reaction of [Cp*Ru(H₂O)(NBD)][BF₄] with 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne generates the unusual [2 + 2 + 2] additional organic compound Ph–C≡C–C₉H₈–Ph in addition to the organometallic compound [Cp*Ru(η⁶-C₆H₅–C≡C–C≡C–Ph)][BF₄]. [C₉H₉-η⁶-C₆H₄(RuCp*)–C₆H₄(RuCp*)-η⁶-C₉H₉][BPh₄]₂ is generated after the reaction of compound [C₉H₉-η⁶-C₆H₄(RuCp*)–C₆H₄(RuCp*)-η⁶-C₉H₉][BF₄]₂ with Na[BPh₄]. The structure of this compound was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. A possible approach to form Ph–C≡C–C₉H₈–Ph and [Cp*Ru(η⁶-C₆H₅–C≡C–C≡C–Ph)][BF₄] is suggested. Graphical Abstract  Formal [2 + 2 + 2] addition reaction of [Cp*Ru(H₂O)(NBD)]BF₄ (NBD = norbornadiene) with 4,4′-Diethynylbiphenyl generates [C₉H₉-η⁶-C₆H₄(RuCp*)–C₆H₄(RuCp*)-η⁶-C₉H₉][BF₄]₂. The reaction of [Cp*Ru(H₂O)(NBD)][BF₄] with 1,4-diphenylbutadiyne simply generates unusual [2 + 2 + 2] additional organic compound Ph–C≡C–C₉H₈–Ph in addition to the organometallic compound [Cp*Ru(η⁶-C₆H₅–C≡C–C≡C–Ph)][BF₄]. [C₉H₉-η⁶-C₆H₄(RuCp*)–C₆H₄(RuCp*)-η⁶-C₉H₉][BPh₄]₂ is generated after the reaction of compound [C₉H₉-η⁶-C₆H₄(RuCp*)–C₆H₄(RuCp*)-η⁶-C₉H₉][BF₄]₂ with Na[BPh₄]. The structure of this compound was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. And the possible approach to form Ph–C≡C–C₉H₈–Ph and [Cp*Ru(η⁶-C₆H₅–C≡C–C≡C–Ph)][BF₄] was suggested. Electronic supplementary material  The online version of this article (doi:) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.     

Indirect electrochemical reductive degradation of polycarbonates

We have studied the kinetic characteristics of degradation of polycarbonates with different structures in dimethylformamide when treated with the products of electrochemical reduction of a (C₄H₉)₄NClO₄ solution in dimethylformamide (supporting solution). We have shown that this process (which can be described as indirect electrochemical reductive degradation) occurs according to a nucleophilic catalytic mechanism. Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petroleum Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 1 Murmanskaya ul., Kiev 253094, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 319–323, September–October, 1998.     

The chlorotropic isomerization mechanism for amidinium tetrachlorophosphorates

MNDO-PM3 quantum-chemical calculations have been combined with³⁵Cl NQR spectroscopy in research on the thermodynamic and kinetic stability of chlorotropic isomers in the Cl₄P(NCH₃)₂CR amidinium tetrachlorophosphorate series, in which R=C₆H₅, CCl₃, CF₃, Cl; the relative thermodynamic stability of the phosphorate P^VI isomer is higher than that of the phosphetidine P^V one and has a minimum in the series for the CF₃ derivative. The chlorotropic P→C transformation of the isomeric forms of the amidinium tetrachlorophosphorates occurs in liquid solutions and in melts by an intramolecular sigmatropic mechanism, not by the formation of a contact ion pair. Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry and Petroleum Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 1 Murmanskaya ul., Kiev 253094, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 35, No. 3, pp. 155–161, May–June, 1999.     

Rate constants for the formation and decomposition of the σ-adduct in the reactions of N-arylpyridinium salts

The rate constants for the formation (k₁) and decomposition (k ₋₁ ,k ₂ ,k ₃ ) of the σ-adduct were determined for the reactions of 4-R-N-(2,4-dinitrophenyl)pyridinium salts [R=Py, CON(C₂H₅)₂] with 4-methoxyaniline, which takes place by the ANRORC substitution mechanism. L. M. Litvinenko Institute of Physical Organic Chemistry and Coal Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 70 R. Lyuksemburg ul., Donetsk 340114, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental'naya Khimiya, Vol. 34, No. 5, pp. 282–285, September–October, 1998.     

Synthesis of formamidines from 2-amino-3-methylquinazolin-4-one and its 6-nitro derivative

The condensation of 2-amino-3-methylquinazolin-4-one and its 6-nitro derivative with dialkyl-, arylalkyl-, and heterylformamides has given the corresponding formamidines of the quinazolinone series. The details of the compounds synthesized are as follows X, R, R′, yield (%), mp (°C, ethanol), R_f (chloroform-methanol (20:1) Al₂O₃): empirical formula: H, CH₃, CH₃, 77, 238–240, 0.49, C₁₂H₁₄ON₄; H, C₂H₅, C₂H₅, 65, 208–210, 0.96, C₁₄H₁₈ON₄; H, CH₃, C₆H₅, 84, 162–164, 0.54, C₁₇H₁₆ON₄; H, (CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂, 60, 196–197, 0.43, C₁₄H₁₆O₂N₄; H, (CH₂)₅, 6.6, 196–198, 0.4, C₁₅H₁₈·ON₄; NO₂, CH₃, CH₃, 64. 194–196, 0.83, C₁₂H₁₃O₃N₅; NO₂, C₂H₅, C₂H₅, 37, 142–144, 0.8, C₁₄H₁₇O₃N₅; NO₂; CH₃, C₆H₅, 38, 298, 0.88, C₁₇H₁₅O₃N₅; NO₂, (CH₂)₂O(CH₂)₂, 60, 148–150, 0.7, C₁₄H₁₅O₄N₅. Institute of the Chemistry of Plant Substances, Academy of Sciences of the Uzbek SSR, Tashkent. Translated from Khimiya Prirodnykh Soedinenii, No. 5, pp. 680–684, September–October, 1980.     

Synthesis and Anticancer Activity of Long-Chain Isonicotinic Ester Ligand-Containing Arene Ruthenium Complexes and Nanoparticles

Arene ruthenium complexes containing long-chain N-ligands L¹ = NC₅H₄–4-COO–C₆H₄–4-O–(CH₂)₉–CH₃ or L² = NC₅H₄–4-COO–(CH₂)₁₀–O–C₆H₄–4-COO–C₆H₄–4-C₆H₄–4-CN derived from isonicotinic acid, of the type [(arene)Ru(L)Cl₂] (arene = C₆H₆, L = L¹: 1; arene = p-MeC₆H₄Pr ⁱ , L = L¹: 2; arene = C₆Me₆, L = L¹: 3; arene = C₆H₆, L = L²: 4; arene = p-MeC₆H₄Pr ⁱ , L = L²: 5; arene = C₆Me₆, L = L²: 6) have been synthesized from the corresponding [(arene)RuCl₂]₂ precursor with the long-chain N-ligand L in dichloromethane. Ruthenium nanoparticles stabilized by L¹ have been prepared by the solvent-free reduction of 1 with hydrogen or by reducing [(arene)Ru(H₂O)₃]SO₄ in ethanol in the presence of L¹ with hydrogen. These complexes and nanoparticles show a high anticancer activity towards human ovarian cell lines, the highest cytotoxicity being obtained for complex 2 (IC₅₀ = 2 μM for A2780 and 7 μM for A2780cisR).     

Effect of the iron content on the properties of a zirconium dioxide catalyst in the hydrogenation of carbon monoxide

The hydrogenation of Co on zirconium dioxide catalysts containing from 0 to 10 mass % iron was studied. Small additions of iron up to about 0.5 mass % promote the ZrO₂ catalysts relative to the formation of C₂–C₄ olefins. In the presence of large iron additives, the catalyst operates as a complex metal-oxide system featuring interaction of its components. L. V. Pisarzhevskii Institute of Physical Chemistry, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 31 Prospekt Nauki, 252039 Kiev, Ukraine. Translated from Teoreticheskaya i éksperimental’naya Khimiya, Vol. 33, No. 3, pp. 153–158, May–June, 1997.     

Non-catalytic pyrolysis of ethane to ethylene in the presence of CO2 with or without limited O2

Influence of the presence of CO₂, which is a mild oxidant, on the performance of the thermal cracking of ethane to ethylene in the absence or presence of limited O₂ at different temperatures (750–900‡C), space velocities (1500–9000 h^-1) and CO₂/C₂H₆ and O₂/C₂H₆ mole ratios (0–2.0 and 0–0.3 respectively) has been investigated. In both the presence and absence of limited O₂, ethane conversion increases markedly because of the presence of CO₂, indicating its beneficial effect on the ethane to ethylene cracking. The increased ethane conversion is, however, not due to the oxidation of ethane to ethylene by CO₂; the formation of carbon monoxide in the presence of CO₂ is found to be very small. It is most probably due to the activation of ethane in the presence of CO₂.     

Synthesis,molecular and electronic structures of half-sandwich ruthenium(II) complexes with pyrimidine-based ligands

The complexes [(C₆H₆)RuCl₂(Hmtp)] and [(C₆H₆)RuCl₂(C₄H₄N₂)] have been prepared and studied by IR, ¹H NMR, UV–VIS spectroscopy and X-ray crystallography. The complexes were prepared by reactions of [(C₆H₆)RuCl₂]₂ with 7-hydroxy-5-methyl[1,2,4]triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine (Hmtp) and pyrimidine, respectively, in methanol. The electronic structures and UV–Vis spectra of the complexes have been calculated using the TD–DFT method.     

Acetylene hydrogenation on SiO2 supported gold nanoparticles

Acetylene hydrogenation has been investigated on 1.8 wt.% Au(I)/SiO₂ and 1.9wt.% Au(II)/SiO₂ catalysts prepared by fixation of Au sol to SiO₂ (Aerosil 200). The mean particle size measured by TEM is 3.7 and 6.1 nm, respectively. For the sake of comparison a 2.1 wt.% Au/TiO₂ sample was prepared by deposition-precipitation (DP) technique (mean particle size of Au is 3.3 nm). Transformation of acetylene was measured at 5 K/min ramp rate with gas mixtures containing the reactants at H₂/C₂H₂=2 and 70 ratios. The C₂H₂ content of the gas mixture was 0.11% (0.11 kPa C₂H₂). The activity sequence at 423 K was: Au/TiO₂>Au(I)/SiO₂≫Au(II)/SiO₂. Both the partial pressure of hydrogen and the temperature significantly affect the activity (acetylene conversion) and ethylene selectivity. Above 500–550 K over-hydrogenation (ethane formation) and hydrogenolysis (methane formation) decrease the ethylene selectivity. Faster deactivation and larger amount of deposit was observed on Au/TiO₂ than on Au(I)/SiO₂. A reaction scheme is proposed suggesting formation of sigma bonded intermediates as sp carbon hybridises to sp² and sp³.