Evaluation of the reactivity,selectivity and lifetime of hydrotalcite-based catalysts using isopropanol as probe molecule

Hydrotalcite catalysts derived from NiAl and NiAlMg mixed oxides were successfully prepared by coprecipitation at a constant pH of 11. Physicochemical methods were investigated to determine their structural and textural properties. Using isopropanol as a probe molecule, the acid–base properties of the catalysts were investigated, and the evaluation of reactivity, selectivity and lifetime was established.

     

Synthesis and characterization of Mg–M (M: Al,Fe, Cr) layered double hydroxides and their application in the hydrogenation of benzaldehyde

Layered double hydroxides or hydrotalcite-like compounds with different kinds of metal ions (Mg–Al, Mg–Fe and Mg–Cr) in the brucite-like sheets were prepared by a co-precipitation method with Mg/M³⁺ molar ratio of ~2. The hydrotalcites were characterized by chemical analysis, X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, temperature programmed reduction, SEM microscopy, and specific surface area measurements. The activity is evaluated for benzaldehyde reaction. The selectivity to benzyl alcohol is always 90 % even though benzaldehyde conversion depends on the nature of the metal active phase and reaction conditions.     

Etude De L'acidité De Zéolithes Y Modifiées Par Différents Cations. Application à la réaction de reformage sec du méthane

A series of modified zeolite catalysts (HYM) was prepared by ion-exchange of a commercial faujasite Y by various cations (M=Ni, Cr, Fe, Li, Ce). The exchange level was calculated from the chemical analysis results. The acidity of the samples was determined by ammonia adsorption calorimetry which allowed the simultaneous determination of the number and strength of the acid sites. The order of acidity obtained was the following: HYCr>HY>HYNi>HYLi>HYFe>HYCe. These catalysts were tested in the dry reforming reaction of methane by carbon dioxide in the 400–700°C domain, under atmospheric pressure. The best catalytic performances were observed with the HYNi sample which displayed methane and dioxide conversions of 74,1 and 78,5% respectively. This revised version was published online in August 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Catalytic reforming of methane by carbon dioxide over nickel-exchanged zeolite catalysts

A series of nickel-exchanged catalysts based on ZSM-5, USY, and Mordenite zeolites has been prepared by the ionic exchange method. The NiZeol catalysts have been characterized by XRD and BET. The exchange levels and nickel contents of the catalysts have been determined by chemical analysis. The acidity of the zeolite supports has been investigated using NH₃ adsorption microcalorimetry. The number of acidic sites was found to decrease according to the following sequence: HUSY > HZSM-5 > HMOR. The temperature programmed reduction studies showed that the most reducible catalyst is NiZSM-5. The Ni-exchanged zeolites presented good catalytic performance in the methane reforming by CO₂. At a temperature of 650°C, CH₄ conversions of 71 and 54% were achieved on NiUSY and NiZSM-5 respectively. At 400°C, CO₂ FTIR adsorption has shown that CO₂ decomposes into CO and oxygen on NiZSM-5 which explains its reactivity at such a low temperature, while no decomposition of this probe molecule was observed on the NiUSY catalyst. The catalytic performance was found to vary in the following sequence at 650°C: NiUSY > NiZSM-5 > NiMOR. Moreover, the catalytic performances were found to depend strongly on the CO₂/CH₄ ratio in the feed and were markedly improved for CO₂/CH₄ greater than 1.     

Catalytic properties of the Cr-HMS materials in the benzylation of benzene with benzyl chloride

A series of chromium-containing mesoporous silicas with different Cr contents were prepared and characterized with chemical analysis, N₂ adsorption measurements (BET equation and BJH theory), X-ray diffraction, diffuse reflectance UV-visible and H₂-temperature programmed reduction techniques. Excellent results in benzylation of benzene and substituted benzenes employing benzyl chloride as the alkylating agent were obtained. The mesoporous chromium-containing materials showed both high activity and high selectivity for benzylation of benzene. The activity of these catalysts for the benzylation of different aromatic compounds is in the following order: benzene > toluene > p-xylene > anisole. Kinetics of the benzene benzylation over these catalysts has also been investigated.