Reversible Nature of Coke Formation on Mo/ZSM‐5 Methane Dehydroaromatization Catalysts

Non‐oxidative dehydroaromatization of methane over Mo/ZSM‐5 zeolite catalysts is a promising reaction for the direct conversion of abundant natural gas into liquid aromatics. Rapid coking deactivation hinders the practical implementation of this technology. Herein, we show that catalyst productivity can be improved by nearly an order of magnitude by raising the reaction pressure to 15 bar. The beneficial effect of pressure was found for different Mo/ZSM‐5 catalysts and a wide range of reaction temperatures and space velocities. High‐pressure operando X‐ray absorption spectroscopy demonstrated that the structure of the active Mo‐phase was not affected by operation at elevated pressure. Isotope labeling experiments, supported by mass‐spectrometry and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, indicated the reversible nature of coke formation. The improved performance can be attributed to faster coke hydrogenation at increased pressure, overall resulting in a lower coke selectivity and better utilization of the zeolite micropore space.     

Initial Carbon−Carbon Bond Formation during the Early Stages of Methane Dehydroaromatization

Methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) is among the most challenging processes in catalysis science owing to the inherent harsh reaction conditions and fast catalyst deactivation. To improve this process, understanding the mechanism of the initial C?C bond formation is essential. However, consensus about the actual reaction mechanism is still to be achieved. In this work, using advanced magic‐angle spinning (MAS) solid‐state NMR spectroscopy, we study in detail the early stages of the reaction over a well‐dispersed Mo/H‐ZSM‐5 catalyst. Simultaneous detection of acetylene (i.e., presumably the direct C?C bond‐forming product from methane), methylidene, allenes, acetal, and surface‐formate species, along with the typical olefinic/aromatic species, allow us to conclude the existence of at least two independent C?H activation pathways. Moreover, this study emphasizes the significance of mobility‐dependent host–guest chemistry between an inorganic zeolite and its trapped organic species during heterogeneous catalysis.     

FT－IR和程序升温热谱技术研究Mo／HZSM－5催化剂的制备过程

采用ＦＴ－ＩＲ和程序升温热谱技术研究了Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ－５催化剂的制备过程．结果表明Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ－５样品在合适的温度下焙烧一定时间，Ｍｏ物种与ＨＺＳＭ－５分子筛的酸中心（主要是强酸中心）起作用，并且一部分Ｍｏ物种会迁移到分子筛孔道内．在外表面的Ｍｏ物种和在孔道内强酸中心作用的Ｍｏ物种，可能是对甲烷活化起作用的     

Active Ensembles in Methane Dehydroaromatization over Molybdenum/ZSM-5 Zeolite Identified by 2D 1H−95Mo Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Correlation Spectroscopy

Methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) over Mo-modified zeolite is a potential catalytic route for converting natural gas into valuable aromatics. However, the active species in this reaction are highly complex, involving diverse Mo species, acidic sites of zeolite, and organic molecules. Herein, we apply 1D ⁹⁵Mo NMR and 2D ¹H-⁹⁵Mo heteronuclear correlation solid-state NMR spectroscopy to directly observe the active ensembles in the confined channels of Mo/ZSM-5 zeolite during the MDA reaction. We monitor the evolution of the spatial correlations of Mo species with the Brønsted acid sites and organic products (olefins and aromatics) in the zeolite channels. We identified two kinds of MoO_xC_y species, with the more carbidic one (MoO_xC_y-II) exhibiting higher activity for methane activation and benzene formation. The strong spatial interactions between the active Mo species and the organic species in the Mo/ZSM-5 pores are related to the MDA activity.     

Direct Imaging of Atomically Dispersed Molybdenum that Enables Location of Aluminum in the Framework of Zeolite ZSM‐5

Integrated differential phase‐contrast scanning transmission electron microscopy (iDPC‐STEM) is capable of directly probing guest molecules in zeolites, owing to its sufficient and interpretable image contrast for both heavy and light elements under low‐dose conditions. This unique ability is demonstrated by imaging volatile organic compounds adsorbed in zeolite Silicalite‐1; iDPC‐STEM was then used to investigate molybdenum supported on various zeolites including Silicalite‐1, ZSM‐5, and mordenite. Isolated single‐Mo clusters were observed in the micropores of ZSM‐5, demonstrating the crucial role of framework Al in driving Mo atomically dispersed into the micropores. Importantly, the specific one‐to‐one Mo‐Al interaction makes it possible to locate Al atoms, that is, catalytic active sites, in the ZSM‐5 framework from the images, according to the positions of Mo atoms in the micropores.     

Template‐Synthesized Porous Silicon Carbide as an Effective Host for Zeolite Catalysts

A facile method has been developed for the fabrication of porous silicon carbide (SiC) by means of sintering a mixture of SiC powder and carbon pellets at a relatively lower temperature, that is, 1450 °C, in air. The pore density and the total pore volume of the resulting porous SiC could be tuned by changing the initial SiC/C weight ratio. The structure evolution and the associated property changes during the preparation were examined through X‐ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, ²⁹Si magic‐angle spinning (MAS) NMR spectroscopy, and mercury‐intrusion porosimetry analyses. Silica and SiO_xC_y ceramics formed in situ during the calcination process acted as binders of the porous SiC grains. The porous SiC can be used as a host for the growth of ZSM‐5 zeolite crystals to form the ZSM‐5/porous‐SiC composite material. After loading another catalytic active component of molybdenum, a novel catalytic material, Mo‐ZSM‐5/porous‐SiC, was obtained, which exhibited improved catalytic activity in the methane dehydroaromatization reaction.     

Theoretical Insights on Methylbenzene Side‐Chain Growth in ZSM‐5 Zeolites for Methanol‐to‐Olefin Conversion

The key step in the conversion of methane to polyolefins is the catalytic conversion of methanol to light olefins. The most recent formulations of a reaction mechanism for this process are based on the idea of a complex hydrocarbon‐pool network, in which certain organic species in the zeolite pores are methylated and from which light olefins are eliminated. Two major mechanisms have been proposed to date—the paring mechanism and the side‐chain mechanism—recently joined by a third, the alkene mechanism. Recently we succeeded in simulating a full catalytic cycle for the first of these in ZSM‐5, with inclusion of the zeolite framework and contents. In this paper, we will investigate crucial reaction steps of the second proposal (the side‐chain route) using both small and large zeolite cluster models of ZSM‐5. The deprotonation step, which forms an exocyclic double bond, depends crucially on the number and positioning of the other methyl groups but also on steric effects that are typical for the zeolite lattice. Because of steric considerations, we find exocyclic bond formation in the ortho position to the geminal methyl group to be more favourable than exocyclic bond formation in the para position. The side‐chain growth proceeds relatively easily but the major bottleneck is identified as subsequent de‐alkylation to produce ethene. These results suggest that the current formulation of the side‐chain route in ZSM‐5 may actually be a deactivating route to coke precursors rather than an active ethene‐producing hydrocarbon‐pool route. Other routes may be operating in alternative zeotype materials like the silico‐aluminophosphate SAPO‐34.     

Mg的添加对Mo／ZSM－5催化剂催化甲烷芳构化性能的影响

 通过XRD，N2吸附和吡啶FT－IR等方法考察了Mg的添加对Mo／ZSM－5催化剂物化性质的影响．吡啶FT－IR结果表明，Mo－Mg／ZSM－5催化剂上Lewis酸中心与Br¨onsted酸中心的比值随着Mg添加量的增加而增大．在甲烷芳构化反应中，虽然催化剂上的积碳量随着Mg含量的增加而减少，但只有6％Mo－0．75％Mg／ZSM－5催化剂表现出比6％Mo／ZSM－5催化剂更好的稳定性，6％Mo－2％Mg／ZSM－5和6％Mo－3％Mg／ZSM－5两个催化剂的稳定性均比6％Mo／ZSM－5催化剂差．根据催化剂稳定性与酸性的关系提出，在有足够Br¨onsted酸中心存在的前提下，可以通过调变Lewis酸中心和Br¨onsted酸中心的比值来提高催化剂的稳定性．     

Recent progress in methane dehydroaromatization: From laboratory curiosities to promising technology

Direct conversion of methane to benzene or other valuable chemicals is a very promising process for the efficient application of natural gas. Compared with conversion processes that require oxidants, non-oxidative direct conversion is more attractive due to high selectivity to the target product. In this paper, an alternative route for methane dehydrogenation and selective conversion to benzene and hydrogen without the participation of oxygen is discussed. A brief review of the catalysts used in methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) is first given, followed by our current understanding of the location and the active phase of Mo species, the reaction mechanism, the mechanism of carbonaceous deposit and the deactivation of Mo/zeolite catalysts are systematically discussed. Ways to improve the catalytic activity and stability are described in detail based on catalyst and reaction as well as reactor design. Future prospects for methane dehydroaromatization process are also presented.     

Direct observation of the active center for methane dehydroaromatization using an ultrahigh field 95Mo NMR spectroscopy

The use of an ultrahigh magnetic field spectrometer and 95Mo isotope enrichment facilitate the direct observation of the local structure of Mo species on Mo/zeolite catalysts by 95Mo NMR. Top trace: The experimental 95Mo NMR spectrum of 6Mo/HZSM-5. Bottom traces: The simulated overall spectrum (orange), the spectral component corresponding to MoO3 (purple), and the component corresponding to the exchanged Mo species (green). The exchanged Mo species proved to be the active center for the methane dehydroaromatization (MDA) reaction.     

Staining of fluid-catalytic-cracking catalysts: localising Brønsted acidity within a single catalyst particle

A time‐resolved in situ micro‐spectroscopic approach has been used to investigate the Brønsted acidic properties of fluid‐catalytic‐cracking (FCC) catalysts at the single particle level by applying the acid‐catalysed styrene oligomerisation probe reaction. The reactivity of individual FCC components (zeolite, clay, alumina and silica) was monitored by UV/Vis micro‐spectroscopy and showed that only clay and zeolites (Y and ZSM‐5) contain Brønsted acid sites that are strong enough to catalyse the conversion of 4‐fluorostyrene into carbocationic species. By applying the same approach to complete FCC catalyst particles, it has been found that the fingerprint of the zeolitic UV/Vis spectra is clearly recognisable. This almost exclusive zeolitic activity is confirmed by the fact that hardly any reactivity is observed for FCC particles that contain no zeolite. Confocal fluorescence microscopy images of FCC catalyst particles reveal inhomogeneously distributed micron‐sized zeolite domains with a highly fluorescent signal upon reaction. By examining laboratory deactivated FCC catalyst particles in a statistical approach, a clear trend of decreasing fluorescence intensity, and thus Brønsted acidity, of the zeolite domains is observed with increasing severity of the deactivation method. By comparing the average fluorescence intensities obtained with two styrenes that differ in reactivity, it has been found that the Brønsted acid site strength within FCC catalyst particles containing ZSM‐5 is more uniform than within those containing zeolite Y, as confirmed with temperature‐programmed desorption of ammonia.     

炭黑颗粒及氟粒子辅助法合成多级结构MCM-22分子筛及其催化性能

以碳黑为第二模板剂在氟离子体系中一步水热合成了多级结构MCM-22分子筛组装体（简称为MCM-22-FC）。考察了碳黑和氟离子对MCM-22分子筛形貌和催化性能的影响。MCM-22-FC分子筛是由大量片状晶体交错生长形成的组装体结构,其中MCM-22的片层结构更薄,在其固有的微孔中存在的晶间孔呈现大孔和介孔的特征。MCM-22-FC负载Mo后得到的Mo/MCM-22-FC催化剂在甲烷无氧芳构化反应（MDA）中提高了苯收率和芳烃选择性,并且提高了催化剂的寿命。通过氨气程序升温脱附（NH₃-TPD）表征,吡啶红外（Py-IR）表征,结合热重（TG）分析,得出的结论是Mo/MCM-22-FC在MDA中优越的催化性能是由于氟离子进入到分子筛骨架当中,形成具有拉电子效应的结构单元,从而提高了分子筛的Brönsted酸量,较多的Brönsted酸性位将更多的Mo物种迁移至分子筛孔道内部,形成更多的MoC_x或MoO_xC_y活性物种以及更有利于大分子产物扩散的MCM-22薄片层的结构。少量过剩的Brönsted酸性位在成型后保留在Mo/HMCM-22-FC催化剂活性中心抑制了积碳的形成,也有助于改善芳烃的选择性。     

甲烷在Mo／HZSM—5催化剂上的高温活化

高温下,甲烷在Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ－５分子筛上可直接生成苯［１］．虽然低温下甲烷能被Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ－５催化剂表面的—ＯＨ所活化［２］,但对甲烷在高温下的活化过程知之甚少,然而这却是很重要的．我们采用原位红外光谱技术,研究了甲烷在高温下Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ－５催化...     

Methane dehydroaromatization with periodic CH_4-H_2 switch:A promising process for aromatics and hydrogen

Long-term stability test of Mo/HZSM-5-N catalysts(HZSM-5-N stands for nano-sized HZSM-5) in methane dehydroaromatization(MDA)reaction has been performed with periodic CH4-H2 switch at 1033-1073 K for more than 1000 h.During this test,methane conversion ranges from 13% to 16%,and mean yield to aromatics(i.e.benzene and naphthalene) exceeds 10%.N2-physisorption,XRD,NMR and TPO measurements were performed for the used Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts and coke deposition,and the results revealed that the periodic hydrogenation can effectively suppress coke deposition by removing the inert aromatic-type coke,thus ensuring Mo/HZSM-5 partly maintained its activity even in the presence of large amount of coke deposition.The effect of zeolite particle size on the catalytic activity was also explored,and the results showed that the nano-sized zeolite with low diffusion resistance performed better.It is recognized that the size effect was enhanced by reaction time,and it became more remarkable in a long-term MDA reaction even at a low space velocity.     

特殊形貌类雪花状ZSM-5分子筛的合成、表征及甲醇制烯烃催化性能(英文)

美国Mobil公司于1972年首先开发的ZSM-5分子筛是一种高硅三维交叉孔道的沸石分子筛,其孔道结构具有良好的择形作用,因此被广泛应用于芳构化、异构化、烷基化和催化裂化等工业催化过程.ZSM-5分子筛的催化性能与其晶粒尺寸、酸性及形貌等密切相关.改变合成方法和制备参数可以合成出不同形貌的ZSM-5分子筛,但目前关于ZSM-5分子筛形貌对其物理化学性质和催化性能的影响报道较少.本文通过改变模板剂类型,采用水热合成法,制备出了类雪花状、椭圆柱状和夹心糖状三种不同形貌的ZSM-5分子筛.通过X射线荧光光谱(XRF)、N_2物理吸脱附(BET)、扫描电镜(SEM)、X射线衍射(XRD)、固体核磁共振(MAS NMR)、NH_3程序升温脱附(NH_3-TPD)及吸附吡啶的红外光谱(Py-IR)等手段对不同形貌分子筛的物理化学性质、形貌、晶体骨架结构和酸性进行了表征.采用浸渍法制备了Ca/HZSM-5催化剂,以甲醇制烯烃(MTO)为探针反应、着重研究了ZSM-5分子筛形貌和晶体结构特性对其酸性和催化性能的影响.合成的三种不同形貌的ZSM-5分子筛具有相近的SiO_2/Al_2O_3比和比表面积.XRD结果表明,通过改变模板剂类型,可制得结晶度较好的ZSM-5分子筛,其中类雪花状分子筛的(101)晶面比例明显多于其它两种分子筛,而椭圆柱状分子筛则暴露更多的(020)晶面.~(27)Al MAS NMR结果表明,绝大部分Al都以四配位形式存在于三种分子筛骨架中,而类雪花状分子筛的峰强度较低,这是由于Al的配位环境不同(偶极作用弱),说明在类雪花状分子筛的交叉晶面中存在大量扭曲、错位和不对称结构;与其它两种分子筛相比,类雪花状分子筛的~(29)Si MAS NMR谱峰宽化、进一步证明该分子筛骨架结构中存在扭曲、错位和不对称性.NH_3-TPD结果表明,类雪花状HZSM-5分子筛的酸量明显高于其它两种分子筛,在SiO_2/Al_2O_3比相近的情况下、类雪花状HZSM-5分子筛晶体骨架结构的错位、扭曲和不对称性造成了该分子筛中酸量增加;但Py-IR结果表明,类雪花状HZSM-5分子筛的酸量低于其它两种分子筛,这与NH_3-TPD结果有差异,主要是由于类雪花状分子筛几何空间结构和晶界处的扭曲、错位对孔道结构的影响,不利于比NH_3分子大的吡啶分子的扩散,进而影响了吡啶分子在酸性位上的吸附.三种不同形貌的ZSM-5分子筛经Ca改性后比表面积和微孔比表面积均明显下降,其中类雪花状和椭圆柱状催化剂的微孔比表面积下降幅度较大,外比表面积下降幅度较小.这是因为各分子筛的晶体结构和晶面的取向差异,导致Ca离子在分子筛上的扩散行为不同.同时,经Ca改性后,三个催化剂的总酸量均有下降,尤其是类雪花状分子筛酸量下降较为明显,表明其中Ca离子更容易扩散到分子筛孔道内,与更多的酸性位作用,而夹心糖状分子筛表面具有更多的Z字形孔道,不利于Ca离子扩散到分子筛孔道内,因而酸量下降较少.Py-IR结果表明,Ca改性后催化剂的总酸量下降,尤其是B酸明显降低,L酸略有增加,其中类雪花状ZSM-5分子筛催化剂的B酸量最低.甲醇制烯烃反应评价结果表明,随着反应温度升高,三个催化剂的总烯选择性和丙烯选择性均呈先升高后降低的趋势.类雪花状ZSM-5分子筛催化剂在甲醇转化率相近时具有最高的烯烃选择性,在反应温度为460℃时,总烯烃选择性为72%,丙烯选择性达39%.     

Methane dehydro-aromatization over Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts in the absence of oxygen: Effect of steam-treatment on catalyst stability

The effect of steam-treatment to HZSM-5 zeolite and Mo/HZSM-5 with a steaming time range of 0.5-1 h on the catalytic performance of methane dehydro-aromatization (MDA) over Mo/HZSM-5 catalyst prepared with impregnation has been studied in detail in combination with the characterization of 1H MAS NMR technique. Both the deactivation rate constant (kd) and the Brnsted acid sites per unit cell were calculated to quantitatively evaluate the stability of Mo/HZSM-5 catalysts treated with steam at 813 K before and after impregnation of molybdenum species, and the corresponding variation of their Brnsted acid sites. The results reveal that a V-shape relationship between kd and the number of B1 acid sites per unit cell is presented on Mo/HZSM-5 catalyst under the tested steam-treatment and reaction conditions.     

The porosity, acidity, and reactivity of dealuminated zeolite ZSM-5 at the single particle level: the influence of the zeolite architecture

A combination of atomic force microscopy (AFM), high‐resolution scanning electron microscopy (HR‐SEM), focused‐ion‐beam scanning electron microscopy (FIB‐SEM), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), confocal fluorescence microscopy (CFM), and UV/Vis and synchrotron‐based IR microspectroscopy was used to investigate the dealumination processes of zeolite ZSM‐5 at the individual crystal level. It was shown that steaming has a significant impact on the porosity, acidity, and reactivity of the zeolite materials. The catalytic performance, tested by the styrene oligomerization and methanol‐to‐olefin reactions, led to the conclusion that mild steaming conditions resulted in greatly enhanced acidity and reactivity of dealuminated zeolite ZSM‐5. Interestingly, only residual surface mesoporosity was generated in the mildly steamed ZSM‐5 zeolite, leading to rapid crystal coloration and coking upon catalytic testing and indicating an enhanced deactivation of the zeolites. In contrast, harsh steaming conditions generated 5–50 nm mesopores, extensively improving the accessibility of the zeolites. However, severe dealumination decreased the strength of the Brønsted acid sites, causing a depletion of the overall acidity, which resulted in a major drop in catalytic activity.     

27Al和29Si MAS-NMR对Mo/HZSM-5催化剂的研究

使用＾２９Ａｌ固体离分辨核磁技术对甲烷无氧芳构化催化剂Ｍｏ／ＨＺＳＭ－５分子筛进行了研究，发现ＨＺＳＭ－５分子筛本体中仅含有少量非骨架Ａｌ，Ｍｏ物种与分子筛骨架Ａｌ的相互作用随Ｍｏ担载量以及焙烧的温度的升高而增加，在高温焙烧下，Ｍｏ物种会使分子筛骨架严重脱铝，并且生成Ａｌ２（ＭｏＯ４）３新相，最终导致分子筛骨架塌陷，催化性能下降。     

分子筛性质对Mo／HZSM－5催化剂上甲烷无氧脱氢芳构化反应的影响

 通过改变合成条件与合成体系，考察了不同硅源合成的HZSM－5分子筛对Mo／HZSM－5催化剂上甲烷无氧脱氢芳构化反应性能的影响．结果表明，用水玻璃合成的HZSM－5分子筛负载Mo后，其催化性能优于用硅溶胶合成的分子筛．1HMASNMR测定结果表明，前者的Br¨onsted酸 浓度较后者大．通过改变合成条件，减小HZSM－5分子筛的粒度，可以提高催化剂在甲烷无氧脱氢芳构化反应中的稳定性．