Epoxidation of propylene on NaCl-modified silver catalysts with air as the oxidant

Propylene epoxidation by air was carried out on NaCl-modified silver (NaCl/Ag) catalysts, and the catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effects of NaCl loadings, propylene to oxygen ratio, and the reaction time on the catalytic performance were investigated. It was found that the addition of NaCl to silver significantly increases the propylene oxide (PO) selectivity. The PO yield has a maximum when the NaCl loading is about 10 wt.%. Also 12.4% conversion of propylene and 31.6% selectivity to PO are obtained on the NaCl/Ag (10 wt.%) catalyst at 350 degreesC, space velocity 1.8 x 10(4) h(-1) and C3H6:O-2 = 1:2. XPS and XRD characterizations show that AgCl formed on the silver catalyst was favorable to propylene epoxidation. A compound with highly oxidized Ag ion was also found, which may be effective for the reaction. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Graphitic nanofilaments as novel support of Ru-Ba catalysts for ammonia synthesis

A novel graphitic-nanofilament-(GNF-) supported Ru-Ba catalyst is prepared and used in ammonia synthesis reaction. The Ru-Ba/GNFs catalyst shows remarkably high activity and stability for ammonia synthesis, which can be attributed to high purity and graphitization of GNFs with unique structure. TEM micrographs of the Ru-Ba/GNFs catalysts show that Ru metal particles uniformly disperse on the outer wall of GNFs, and the particles become bigger than that before ammonia synthesis reaction after 50 h of operation at 500degreesC and 7.0 MPa, probably due to the Ru crystals covered by promoter and support materials and/or sintering of Ru crystals. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Selective oxidehydrogenation of ethane with CO2 over CeO2-based catalysts

Ceria catalysts were found active and selective to the oxidehydrogenation of ethane (ODE) with CO2 and the actual contribution for C2H4 formation from heterogeneous catalysis was 75-55% in the range 953-993 K. The presence of calcium ions in solid solution in the ceria crystalline network increased significatively the selectivity to ethene and the efficiency of CO2 as oxidant in the heterogeneous reaction. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Comparative study by infrared spectroscopy and microcalorimetry of the CO adsorption over supported palladium catalysts

The adsorption of CO on Al(2)O(3), ZrO(2), ZrO(2)-SiO(2), and ZrO(2)-La(2)O(3) supported Pd catalysts was studied by adsorption microcalorimetry and infrared (TR) spectroscopy. Some interesting and new correlations between the results of microcalorimetry and IR spectroscopy have been found. The CO is adsorbed on palladium catalysts in three different modes: multibonded (3-fold), bridged (2-fold), both on Pd(lll) and (100) planes, and linear (1-fold) adsorbed species. The corresponding differential adsorption heats lie in the field of high (210-170 kJ/mol), medium (140-120 kJ/mol), and low (95-60 kJ/mol) values, respectively. The nature of the support, the reduction temperature, and the pretreatment conditions affect the surface structure of the Pd catalysts, resulting in variations in the site energy distribution, i.e., changes in the fraction of sites adsorbing CO with specific heats of adsorption. Moreover, the CeO(2); promoter addition weakens the adsorption strength of CO on palladium. Based on the exposed results, a correctness factor, which considers the percentages of various CO adsorption states, must be introduced when one calculates the Pd dispersion using CO adsorption data.

Thioreduction of cyclopentanone and hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene over sulfided nickel or cobalt-promoted molybdenum on alumina catalysts

Two series of sulfided Ni or Co promoted Mo/alumina catalysts, having different Ni or Co loadings, were characterized by their activities for the transformation of cyclopentanone into cyclopentanethiol (flow reactor, 220 degrees C, atmospheric pressure) and for the hydrodesulfurization of dibenzothiophene (flow reactor, 340 degrees C, 3 MPa hydrogen pressure). The addition of the promoter increased significantly the activity of the Mo/alumina catalyst for both reactions, up to a maximum obtained with the catalysts having a (promoter)/(promoter+Mo) molar ratio equal to 0.3-0.4. This increase in activity was due in part to an increase in the hydrogenating properties of the Mo/alumina catalyst. However, an additional modification of the catalyst (basic and nucleophilic properties) must be considered to account for the spectacular effect of the promoter on the rate of the dibenzothiophene direct desulfurization reaction. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

A study on reduction behaviors of the supported platinum-iron catalysts

The reduction behaviors of the supported platinum-iron catalysts and their comparison with supported iron catalysts were studied by TPR (temperature-programmed reduction)-in situ Fe-57 MBS (Mossbauer spectroscopy). The results indicated that the TPR processes of all Fe-containing catalysts were different from that of bulk alpha-Fe2O3. There were interactions between Pt, Fe and the gamma-Al2O3 or SiO2 support for the Pt-Fe/gamma-Al2O3 and Pt-Fe/SiO2 catalysts. All the iron-containing catalysts show that Fe3+ was highly dispersed on the support (gamma-Al2O3 and SiO2) before reduction. No Fe-0 was found in the reduction processes. The Fe3+ was reduced to Fe2+ in tetrahedral vacancy first for the reduction of the Pt-Fe/gamma-Al2O3 catalyst. No Fe2+ in octahedral vacancy was found in the reduction of the Pt-Fe/SiO2 catalyst. Adding Pt to Fe/support (gamma-Al2O3 or SiO2) could promote the reduction of the Fe species. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.

Methanol to olefin conversion catalysts

The past year has seen remarkable advances both in methanol to olefin process development and in understanding the catalysts and reactions invoked. The methanol to olefin process is now on the way to being commercialized locally with economic advantages in comparison with other natural gas utilization technologies and conventional naphtha cracking processes. Using a specially designed procedure, a catalyst for the selective synthesis of ethylene from methanol has been reliably reproduced. The relationships between catalyst properties and reaction performances are clearer than ever before.