Electrochemical vs. conventional promotion: A new tool to design effective, highly dispersed conventional catalysts

Pt-group metals exhibit strong Electrochemical Promotion (EP) by sodium during reactions related to emission control catalysis, such as NO reduction by hydrocarbons. Close similarities are found between electrochemically promoted catalysts and catalysts conventionally promoted and highly dispersed on large surface area supported materials. These similarities include (i) overall kinetic behaviour and (ii) the dependence of the activity and selectivity on Na loading. For example, using both methods of Na-promotion, the catalytic reduction of NO by propene exhibited rate enhancements by up to an order of magnitude accompanied by very pronounced increases of the system selectivity towards N₂. Among other things, our results serve to validate further the interpretation offered for the EP (or NEMCA) phenomenon. More importantly, they demonstrate that the insight obtained from EP studies can be used to design successfully effective catalyst formulations that were previously untried, thus opening up new areas for investigation in the frontiers between catalysis and electrochemistry. Paper presented at the 5th Euroconference on Solid State Ionics, Benalmádena, Spain, Sept. 13–20, 1998.     

Statistical analysis of grouped and censored observations

The asymptotic normality and asymptotic effectiveness of generalized Bayesian estimates are proved under less restrictive hypotheses.Translated from Staticheskie Metody, pp. 122–137, 1978.     

Fischer-Tropsch Catalysts Based on Zr-Fe Intermetallides Encapsulated in an Al2O3/Al Matrix

ZrFe and ZrFe₂ intermetallides in an Al₂O₃/Al cermet matrix are reported as catalysts for the fixed-bed Fischer-Tropsch synthesis, and the effects of some preparation conditions on their texture, structural, mechanical, and catalytic properties are discussed. A nonmonotonic dependence of their catalytic activity on the size of interametallide particles is observed. The selectivity, activity, and mechanical strength of the composites depend on the calcination temperature and on the place of the hydriding step in the catalyst preparation procedure. In terms of volumetric efficiency, the catalysts prepared are comparable with bulk, unencapsulated intermetallides and are among the most efficient iron-containing catalysts known to date.     

Nature of extended defects of CuO

For the first time, using high-resolution electron microscopy, extended defects (twins, screw dislocations and microdistortions) of disperse CuO have been found. Their structure is described.

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CuO -, .

     

Selective oxidation of hydrocarbons into synthesis gas at short contact times: Design of monolith catalysts and main process parameters

This review summarizes the main achievements of the Boreskov Institute of Catalysis (Siberian Division, Russian Academy of Sciences) in the development of efficient and stable monolith catalysts for selective oxidation of hydrocarbons into synthesis gas at short contact times. Research in this field has included (1) design of new types of active component based on metal oxides, (2) design of new types of monolith support and development of supporting procedures for active components, and (3) optimization of process parameters for different types of fuel (natural gas, isooctane, and gasoline) and oxidant (air oxygen, including its mixtures with water and carbon dioxide), including the start-up regime. Design of active components (platinum, nickel, or their combination) supported on fluorite-like solid solutions based on cerium dioxide and rare-earth (samarium, gadolinium, and praseodymium) or zirconium cations has been aimed at separating hydrocarbon activation (on metal sites) and oxidation (on the support) and conjugating the separated steps of hydrocarbon oxidation at the metal-oxide interface. Optimization of oxygen mobility in the support lattice by varying the nature and concentration of doping cation along with optimization of hydrocarbon activation on supported metal clusters allow hydrocarbons to be completely converted into synthesis gas by selective oxidation or dry or steam reforming at contact times of a few milliseconds, ruling out undesirable carbon build-up on the catalyst surface. The development of new types of monolith support has targeted the enhancement of thermal shock resistance, including testing of supports based on thermally stable metal foils and composites (cermets). The main steps of the production of these supports have been refined, including unique technologies of blast dusting and hydrothermal treatment. The electric conductivity of these systems allows a quick startup of selective oxidation to be performed by passing electric current, and their thermal conductivity minimizes the temperature gradient arising from heat transfer in the bed. Procedures for loading monolith supports with active components have been developed, including impregnation, washcoating, or encapsulation in cermet matrices. The catalysts produced show a high efficiency and an operational stability adequate to the above tasks in the selective oxidation and steam-air autothermal reforming of natural gas (including processes under pressure), isooctane, and gasoline into synthesis gas.__________Translated from Kinetika i Kataliz, Vol. 46, No. 2, 2005, pp. 243–268.Original Russian Text Copyright © 2005 by Sadykov, Pavlova, Bunina, Alikina, Tikhov, Kuznetsova, Frolova, Lukashevich, Snegurenko, Sazonova, Kazantseva, Dyatlova, Usoltsev, Zolotarskii, Bobrova, Kuzmin, Gogin, Vostrikov, Potapova, Muzykantov, Paukshtis, Burgina, Rogov, Sobyanin, Parmon.