TPR investigations on the reducibility of Cu supported on Al2O3, zeolite Y and SAPO-5

Reducibility of Cu supported on Al₂O₃, zeolite Y and silicoaluminophosphate SAPO-5 has been investigated in dependence on the Cu content using a method combining conventional temperature programmed reduction (TPR) by hydrogen with reoxidation in N₂O followed by a second the so-called surface-TPR (s-TPR). The method enables discrimination and a quantitative estimation of the Cu oxidation states +2, +1 and 0. The quantitative results show that the initial oxidation state of Cu after calcination in air at 400 °C, independent on the nature of the support, is predominantly +2. Cu²⁺ supported on Al₂O₃ is quantitatively reduced by hydrogen to metallic Cu⁰. Comparing the TPR of the samples calcined in air and that of samples additionally pre-treated in argon reveals that in zeolite Y and SAPO-5 Cu²⁺ cations are stabilized as weakly and strongly forms. In both systems, strongly stabilized Cu²⁺ ions are not auto-reduced by pre-treatment in argon at 650 °C, but are reduced in hydrogen to form Cu⁺. The weakly stabilized Cu²⁺ ions, in contrast, may be auto-reduced by pre-treatment in argon at 650 °C forming Cu⁺ but are reduced in hydrogen to metallic Cu⁰.     

PMo or PW heteropoly acids supported on MCM-41 silica nanoparticles: Characterisation and FT-IR study of the adsorption of 2-butanol

Mesoporous silica, prepared in basic conditions, has been loaded (20% weight) with 12-molybdophosphoric (PMo) or 12-tungstophosphoric (PW) acid and calcined at different temperatures ranging between 250 and 550 °C. The samples have been characterised by N₂ adsorption-desorption at −196 °C, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), UV-visible diffuse reflectance, Raman spectroscopy and temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The acidity and catalytic activity have been, respectively, examined by monitoring the adsorption of pyridine and 2-butanol by FT-IR spectroscopy. The results indicate that PW and PMo acids are highly dispersed on mesoporous silica MCM-41 spherical nanoparticles. While PMo retains its Keggin structure up to 550 °C, PW decomposes at this temperature into crystalline WO₃ and phosphorous oxides. In both cases, the morphology, hexagonal symmetry and long-range order observed for the support are preserved with calcination up to 450 °C. The Brönsted-type acid sites found in all samples, whose surface concentration decreases as the calcination temperature increases, are responsible for the selective formation of cis-butene detected upon adsorption of 2-butanol. The sample containing PW calcined at 450 °C also shows selectivity to methyl ethyl ketone.     

Structural and textural features of TiO<Subscript>2</Subscript>/SAPO-34 nanocomposite prepared by the sol–gel method

This paper focuses on the synthesis of nanocomposite materials, TiO₂/SAPO-34, using the sol–gel method, which involves preparing a mixture between as-synthesized or calcined SAPO-34 zeolite and TiO₂ gel under hydrothermal crystallization and then calcining it at 400 °C for the formation of the TiO₂ anatase phase. The structural and textural features of the obtained materials were determined by various physico-chemical techniques such as thermogravimetric analysis, X-ray diffraction, scanning electronic microscopy, nitrogen sorption at 77 K, energy dispersive X-ray analysis and ultraviolet–visible spectrometry. The DRX results showed that calcination at 400 °C of the mixture between the calcined SAPO-34 and TiO₂ gel led to the collapse of the original framework of zeolite, but formed the anatase TiO₂ in a nano-spherical morphology; however, the use of as-synthesized SAPO-34 supports provides a mixture phase between SAPO-34 and TiO₂ anatase after calcination. The photocatalytic properties of the SAPO-34/TiO₂ and TiO₂-type materials were tested for the removal of methylene blue (MB) dye. The MB degradation proved to increase as a function of contact time, catalyst mass and the initial concentration of MB.     

Achieving highly selective CO2 adsorption on SAPO-35 zeolites by template-modulating the framework silicon content

Small-pore silicoaluminophosphate (SAPO) zeolites with 8-ring pore windows and appropriate acidities/polarities, for example, SAPO-34 (CHA) and SAPO-56 (AFX), have proven to be potential adsorbing materials for selective adsorption of CO₂. However, SAPO-35 zeolites (LEV framework topology) synthesized using conventional templates are less reported for highly selective CO₂ adsorption which might be due to inappropriate Si contents and acidities in the framework. In this work, by using N-methylpiperidine (NMP) as a template, SAPO-35 zeolites with various Si contents were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions, which allowed SAPO-35 zeolites with modulated acidities and polarities. The CO₂ adsorption and separation properties of SAPO-35_x (x: Si/(Si + P + Al) in molar ratio) were investigated, and a close relationship between the acidity, polarity and CO₂ adsorption and separation capacity was revealed. SAPO-35_0.14 with the strongest acidity showed the highest CO₂ uptake of 4.76 mmol g⁻¹ (273 K and 100 kPa), and appeared to be one of the best SAPO materials for CO₂ adsorption. Moreover, increased Brønsted acidity can significantly enhance the adsorption selectivity of CO₂ over N₂. At 298 K and 100 kPa, SAPO-35_0.14 showed the highest CO₂/N₂ selectivity of 49.9, exhibiting potential for industrial processes. Transient binary breakthrough experiments on SAPO-35_0.14 further proved the efficient separation performance and stable circulation. The results of this study prove that the framework Si content of SAPO-35 zeolites is essential for regulating their CO₂ adsorption performance. This work demonstrates that modulating the silicon content and acidity in SAPO zeolites via a suitable choice of template, as well as polarity, is of great significance for the rational synthesis of zeolites with superior CO₂ adsorption and separation abilities.

SAPO-35 zeolite with template-modulated framework Si content showed superior CO₂ affinity and separation of CO₂/N₂ mixtures.     

Mixed oxides obtained from Co and Mn containing layered double hydroxides: Preparation, characterization, and catalytic properties

Co-Mn-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with various Co:Mn:Al molar ratios (4:2:0, 4:1.5:0.5, 4:1:1, 4:0.5:1.5, and 4:0:2) were prepared and characterized. Magnesium containing LDHs Co-Mg-Mn (2:2:2), Co-Mg-Mn-Al (2:2:1:1), and Co-Mg-Al (2:2:2) were also studied. Thermal decomposition of prepared LDHs and formation of related mixed oxides were studied using high-temperature X-ray powder diffraction and thermal analysis. The thermal decomposition of Mg-free LDHs starts by their partial dehydration accompanied by shrinkage of the lattice parameter c from ca. 0.76 to 0.66 nm. The dehydration temperature of the Co-Mn-Al LDHs decreases with increasing Mn content from 180 °C in Co-Al sample to 120 °C in sample with Co:Mn:Al molar ratio of 4:1.5:0.5. A subsequent step is a complete decomposition of the layered structure to nanocrystalline spinel, the complete dehydration, and finally decarbonation of the mixed oxide phase. Spinel-type oxides were the primary crystallization products. Mg-containing primary spinels had practically empty tetrahedral cationic sites. A dramatic increase of the spinel cell size upon heating and analysis by Raman spectroscopy revealed a segregation of Co-rich spinel in Co-Mn and Co-Mn-Al specimens. In calcination products obtained at 500 °C, the spinel mean coherence length was 5-10 nm, and the total content of the X-ray diffraction crystalline portion was 50-90%. These calcination products were tested as catalysts in the total oxidation of ethanol and decomposition of N₂O. The catalytic activity in ethanol combustion was enhanced by increasing (Co+Mn) content while an optimum content of reducible components was necessary for high activity in N₂O decomposition, where the highest conversions were found for calcined Co-Mn-Al sample with Co:Mn:Al molar ratio of 4:1:1.     

Hydrogen purification using a SAPO-34 membrane

A SAPO-34 membrane separated CO₂/H₂ and H₂/CH₄ mixtures at feed pressures up to 1.7 MPa. Strong CO₂ adsorption inhibited H₂ adsorption and decreased H₂ permeances significantly, especially at low temperatures, so that CO₂ preferentially permeated and CO₂/H₂ selectivities were higher at low temperatures. At 253 K, CO₂/H₂ separation selectivities were greater than 100 with CO₂ permeances of 3 × 10⁻⁸ mol m⁻² s⁻¹ Pa⁻¹. The CO₂/H₂ separation exceeded the upper bounds (selectivity–permeability plot) for polymer membranes. The SAPO-34 membrane separated H₂ from CH₄ because CH₄ is close to the SAPO-34 pore size and has a lower diffusivity than H₂. The H₂/CH₄ separation selectivity had a small maximum with temperature, and decreased slightly with feed pressure and CH₄ feed concentration.     

Effect of hydrothermal treatment on properties of Ni-Al layered double hydroxides and related mixed oxides

The Ni-Al layered double hydroxides (LDHs) with Ni/Al molar ratio of 2, 3, and 4 were prepared by coprecipitation and treated under hydrothermal conditions at 180 °C for times up to 20 h. Thermal decomposition of the prepared samples was studied using thermal analysis and high-temperature X-ray diffraction. Hydrothermal treatment increased significantly the crystallite size of coprecipitated samples. The characteristic LDH diffraction lines disappeared completely at ca. 350 °C and a gradual crystallization of NiO-like mixed oxide was observed at higher temperatures. Hydrothermal treatment improved thermal stability of the Ni2Al and Ni3Al LDHs but only a slight effect of hydrothermal treatment was observed with the Ni4Al sample. The Rietveld refinement of powder XRD patterns of calcination products obtained at 450 °C showed a formation of Al-containing NiO-like oxide and a presence of a considerable amount of Al-rich amorphous component. Hydrothermal aging of the LDHs resulted in decreasing content of the amorphous component and enhanced substitution of Al cations into NiO-like structure. The hydrothermally treated samples also exhibited a worse reducibility of Ni²⁺ components. The NiAl₂O₄ spinel and NiO still containing a marked part of Al in the cationic sublattice were detected in the samples calcined at 900 °C. The Ni2Al LDHs hydrothermally treated for various times and related mixed oxides obtained at 450 °C showed an increase in pore size with increasing time of hydrothermal aging. The hydrothermal treatment of LDH precursor considerably improved the catalytic activity of Ni2Al mixed oxides in N₂O decomposition, which can be explained by suppressing internal diffusion effect in catalysts grains.     

An NMR study of the species produced by the reactions of dialkyl magnesium and HCl with calcined silica and the polymerisation performance of Ziegler-Natta catalysts produced from this support material

The effect of calcinations on the silica surface groups and thereby on the activity of Ziegler-Natta catalysts in ethylene homopolymerisation has been studied. Silica was calcined at different temperatures and treated with MgR₂ and HCl. Silica surface groups were identified by using ¹H MAS NMR and ¹³C and ²⁹Si CP MAS NMR techniques. Magnesium, titanium and chlorine were measured by elemental analysis. Ziegler-Natta catalysts were prepared from these supports and subsequently used in ethylene homopolymerisation. Maximum activity was obtained with the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica. The results indicate that MgR₂ reacts with siloxane-groups (Si-O-Si) in the 300 °C calcined silica, leaving the hydrogen-bonded hydroxyl-groups unreacted. Low activity Si-O-Ti(Cl)₂-O-Si species are formed after reacting with TiCl₄. The higher activity in the catalyst based on 590 °C calcined silica can be explained by the formation of -Si(R)-O-Si-O-TiCl₃ groups, originating from the siloxane bridges which cannot form in 300 °C calcined silica. Other explanations for the higher activity are a higher Mg/Ti ratio or small amounts of crystal water formed in the 590 °C calcined silica.     

Preparation and characterization of microporous SiO2-ZrO2 pillared montmorillonite

SiO₂-ZrO₂ pillared montmorillonite (SZM) was prepared by the reaction of Na-montmorillonite with colloidal silica-zirconia particles which were prepared by depositing zirconium hydroxy cations on silica particles. By pillaring with the colloidal particles, the basal spacing of montmorillonite was expanded to ca. 45 Å and the calcined SZM samples showed large specific surface areas up to 320 m²/g at 400 °C. In spite of large interlayer separation, adsorption results indicated the presence of micropores generated between the colloidal particles. The microporous structure was maintained at least up to 600 °C and exhibited specific shape selectivity for the adsorption of large organic molecules, especially between toluene and mesitylene. According to the temperature-programmed-desorption (TPD) spectra of ammonia, the calcined SZM showed weakly acidic sites.     

Preparation and performances of nanosized Ta2O5 powder photocatalyst

Nanosized-Ta₂O₅ powder photocatalyst was successfully synthesized by using sol-gel method via TaCl₅ butanol solution as a precursor. Ta₂O₅ species can be formed under 500 °C via the decomposition of the precursor. The crystalline phase of Ta₂O₅ powder photocatalyst can be obtained after being calcined above 600 °C for 4 h. The crystal size and particle size of Ta₂O₅ powder photocatalyst was about 50 nm. A good photocatalytic performance for the degradation of gaseous formaldehyde was obtained for the nanosized-Ta₂O₅ powder. The Ta₂O₅ powder formed at 700 °C for 4 h and at 650 °C for 12 h showed the best performance. The calcination temperature and time play an important role in the crystallization and photocatalytical performance of nanosized-Ta₂O₅ powder.     

Comparative Study of Mg/M(III) (M=Al, Ga, In) Layered Double Hydroxides Obtained by Coprecipitation and the Sol-Gel Method

Various layered double hydroxides (LDHs) consisting of magnesium and a trivalent metal (Al, Ga or In) in an Mg/M(III) ratio of 3 were prepared by precipitation from the corresponding nitrates and also from magnesium ethoxide and the acetylacetonates of the trivalent metals using the sol-gel method. The six LDHs thus obtained were calcined at 500°C. All solids were characterized by XRD and IR spectroscopy prior to and after calcination. Their textural properties were determined from nitrogen adsorption measurements and their surface chemical properties by CO₂ chemisorption.     

柠檬酸辅助固相研磨法制备铜基催化剂及在CO_2加氢合成甲醇反应中的性能研究

通过柠檬酸辅助固相研磨法制备铜基催化剂,采用XRD、TPR、TG-DSC、SEM、BET、TEM、XPS、CO_2-TPD等手段对催化剂性能进行表征.结果表明室温固相研磨的前驱体在惰性气体N_2中焙烧使体系中的CuO绝大部分被原位还原成Cu~0,不需外加H_2还原,直接制得了C/I-Cu/ZnO催化剂,催化剂具有中孔.利用高压固定床连续反应装置对催化剂活性进行了评价,结果表明,柠檬酸用量、前驱体焙烧温度、焙烧升温速率等条件对催化剂活性产生影响,当C_6H_8O_7/(Cu+Zn)摩尔比为1.2/1并Cu/Zn摩尔比1/1,前驱体在N_2中以3 K·min~(-1)升温速率于623 K焙烧3 h,制得的C/I-Cu/ZnO催化剂比表面积最大,Cu~0粒径最小,在CO_2加氢合成甲醇反应中表现出最佳的活性,CO_2转化率、甲醇选择性和产率分别达到了28.28%、74.29%和21.01%.与外加H_2还原的C/H-Cu/ZnO催化剂相比,原位还原C/I-Cu/ZnO催化剂比表面积较大,Cu~0的粒径较小,活性较高.     

Characterization of CoMCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves obtained by the microwave irradiation method

CoMCM-41 mesoporous molecular sieves with different amounts of cobalt were synthesized via the microwave irradiation method. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR), temperature programmed reduction (TPR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N₂ adsorption-desorption technique, and thermal and hydrothermal stabilities of synthesized CoMCM-41 samples were also investigated. Results show that these synthesized materials have typical mesoporous structure of MCM-41. Also, specific surface area and pore volume of synthesized CoMCM-41 decrease with increasing amount of cobalt added, and mesoporous ordering also decreases. When the molar ratio of SiO₂:CoO in the starting material is 1.0:0.05, mesoporous ordering of synthesized CoMCM-41 is the best among the four doping contents. On the other hand, results of thermal and hydrothermal tests show that CoMCM-41 after calcination at 750 °C for 3 h or hydrothermal treatment at 100 °C for 5 days still retains mesostructure. However, mesoporous framework is entirely damaged after calcination at 850 °C for 3 h.     

Accurate correlation,structural interpretation,and thermochemistry of equilibrium adsorption isotherms of carbon dioxide in zeolite NaX by means of the GSTA model

Zeolite NaX (commonly known as zeolite 13X) has found wide use in industry for the separation of carbon dioxide from air, methane-containing landfill gas, and flue gases. Capture and sequestration of carbon dioxide has become of utmost importance to mitigate severe environmental problems associated to burning of fossil fuels, such as the greenhouse effect and the consequential warming of global climate. Due to its low energy consumption and ease of operation, the zeolite-13X molecular-sieve pressure-swing adsorption process has become the method of choice for the recovery and capture of carbon dioxide from air and flue gas. Accurate correlation of the equilibrium adsorption isotherms of carbon dioxide in zeolite NaX is required for the reliable modeling and simulation of that process. In this paper, we firstly show that none of the traditional adsorption isotherm models (such as those of Langmuir, Sips, Toth, UNILAN, and Dubinin–Astakhov) is entirely capable of correlating a published set of equilibrium adsorption isotherms of carbon dioxide in zeolite NaX that were measured over a range of eight decades of pressure. A generalized statistical thermodynamic adsorption (GSTA) model, which we had already derived and successfully applied to the adsorption of water vapor in zeolite 3A, is employed in this work to obtain a very accurate correlation of that set of adsorption isotherms of carbon dioxide in zeolite NaX, for the pressure range from 0.2 Pa to 6.4 MPa and in the temperature range from −78 to 150 °C. We also provide thermochemical and structural interpretations of the isotherms fit and make predictions for the isosteric heat of adsorption that are in excellent agreement with the available experimental data.     

Preparation and photocatalytic activity of ZnO/TiO2/SnO2 mixture

ZnO/TiO₂/SnO₂ mixture was prepared by mixing its component solid oxides ZnO, TiO₂ and SnO₂ in the molar ratio of 4?1?1, followed by calcining the solid mixture at 200-1300 °C. The products and solid-state reaction process during the calcinations were characterized with powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), UV-Vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV-Vis DRS) and Brunauer-Emmett-Teller measurement of specific surface area. Neither solid-state reaction nor change of crystal phase composition took place among the ZnO, TiO₂ and SnO₂ powders on the calcinations up to 600 °C. However, formation of the inverse spinel Zn₂TiO₄ and Zn₂SnO₄ was detected at 700-900 and 1100-1200 °C, respectively. Further increase of the calcination temperature enabled the mixture to form a single-phase solid solution Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄ with an inverse spinel structure in the space group of . The ZnO/TiO₂/SnO₂ mixture was photocatalytically active for the degradation of methyl orange in water; its photocatalytic mass activity was 16.4 times that of SnO₂, 2.0 times that of TiO₂, and 0.92 times that of ZnO after calcination at 500 °C for 2 h. But, the mass activity of the mixture decreased with increasing the calcination temperature at above 700 °C because of the formation of the photoinactive Zn₂TiO₄, Zn₂SnO₄ and Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄. The sample became completely inert for the photocatalysis after prolonged calcination at 1300 °C (42 h), since all of the active component oxides were reacted to form the solid solution Zn₂Ti_0.5Sn_0.5O₄ with no photocatalytic activity.     

CO<Subscript>2</Subscript> capture by Mg–Al and Zn–Al hydrotalcite-like compounds

Hydrotalcite-like compounds (HTC) are distinguished by their properties for CO₂ capture, like high surface area, basic sites, thermal stability and good adsorption/desorption efficiency. Mg–Al e Zn–Al HTCs with Al³⁺ molar ratios x = 0.20, 0.28 and 0.33 were synthesized by coprecipitation, and subsequently calcined at 400 °C. For both HTCs, X-ray diffraction patterns have attested the formation of mixed oxides through calcination. The amount of basic sites, measured by temperature-programmed desorption of CO₂, decreases as x increases. The CO₂ adsorption was performed in a thermogravimetric balance using an adsorption temperature of 50 °C. Mg–Al and Zn–Al samples with x = 0.33 molar composition presented the highest CO₂ adsorption, 0.91 and 0.21 mmol g^?1, respectively. The Langmuir isotherm fitted well to the experimental data. It was also found that increasing the number of adsorption/desorption cycles the CO₂ adsorption decreases, which is associated with the irreversible chemisorption.     

Determination of hydroxyls density in the silica-mesostructured cellular foams by thermogravimetry

Thermogravimetry was applied to determine the surface hydroxyls coverage in the mesostructured cellular foams (MCFs) calcined at different temperatures and then rehydroxylated by contacting with water vapor or liquid. The TG measurements were performed by heating MCFs in air stream using a three-step temperature program: (i) at rate of 5 °C min⁻¹ from 25 to 200 °C; (ii) held at 200 °C for 30 min; and (iii) heating at rate of 10 °C min⁻¹ up to 1100 °C. The hydroxyls content was calculated from weight loss during third step. The hydroxyls density appeared to depend strongly on the calcination temperature and the subsequent contact with water vapor. When MCFs were exposed for a short period (ca. 1 min) to moist air the hydroxyls content increased rapidly, more in the samples calcined at 300 °C than 500 °C, to attain surface densities of 4.75 and 1.6 OH nm⁻², respectively. The 2-h contact with water vapor resulted in slower further increase of hydroxyls densities, to values of 5.45 and 2.9 OH nm⁻², for samples calcined at 300 and 500 °C, but longer contacts had no significant effect. A similar trend was also observed when sample was treated with liquid water.     

Synthesis of Na-A and/or Na-X zeolite/porous carbon composites from carbonized rice husk

Na-A and/or Na-X zeolite/porous carbon composites were prepared under hydrothermal conditions by NaOH dissolution of silica first from carbonized rice husk followed by addition of NaAlO₂ and in situ crystallization of zeolites i.e., using a two-step process. When a one-step process was used, both Na-A and Na-X zeolites crystallized on the surface of carbon. Na-A or Na-X zeolite crystals were prepared on the porous carbonized rice husk at 90 °C for 2-6 h by changing the SiO₂/Al₂O₃, H₂O/Na₂O and Na₂O/SiO₂ molar ratios of precursors in the two-step process. The surface area and NH₄⁺-cation exchange capacity (CEC) of Na-A zeolite/porous carbon were found to be 171 m²/g and 506 meq/100 g, respectively, while those of Na-X zeolite/porous carbon composites were 676 m²/g and 317 meq/100 g, respectively. Na-A and Na-X zeolites are well-known microporous and hydrophilic materials while carbonized rice husk was found to be mesoporous (pores of ∼3.9 nm) and hydrophobic. These hybrid microporous-mesoporous and hydrophilic-hydrophobic composites are expected to be useful for decontamination of metal cations as well as organic contaminants simultaneously.     

Adsorption of mixtures of vapors on zeolites

Conclusions The adsorption of a binary mixture of vapors[CHCl₃-(C₂H₅)₂O]on zeolite NaX was studied at 60 and 72°. The thermodynamic properties of the adsorption solutions formed were described.Translated from Izvestiya Akademii Nauk SSSR, Seriya Khimicheskaya, No. 7, pp. 1309–1311, July, 1964     

A Facile synthesis of flower-like Co3O4 porous spheres for the lithium-ion battery electrode

The porous hierarchical spherical Co₃O₄ assembled by nanosheets have been successfully fabricated. The porosity and the particle size of the product can be controlled by simply altering calcination temperature. SEM, TEM and SAED were performed to confirm that mesoporous Co₃O₄ nanostructures are built-up by numerous nanoparticles with random attachment. The BET specific surface area and pore size of the product calcined at 280 °C are 72.5 m² g⁻¹ and 4.6 nm, respectively. Our experiments further demonstrated that electrochemical performances of the synthesized products working as an anode material of lithium-ion battery are strongly dependent on the porosity.