Dennis A. Hucul

Catalytic Hydrogenation of Polystyrene

The use of ultra wide pore silica as a catalyst for the hydrogenation of polystyrene to give poly(cyclohexylethylene) (PCHE) has facilitated the development of a dramatically improved process with much milder conditions. The large pores allow rapid diffusion into and out of the catalyst, so that the interior surfaces are also available for reaction. The mild conditions give rise to high-quality PCHE, whose structure is shown in the Figure.

In Situ Electron Microscopy Studies of the Sintering of Palladium Nanoparticles on Alumina during Catalyst Regeneration Processes

Sintering of a palladium catalyst supported on alumina (Al2O3) in an oxidizing environment was studied by in situ transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In the case of a fresh catalyst, sintering of Pd particles on an alumina surface in a 500 mTorr steam environment happened via traditional ripening or migration and coalescence mechanisms and was not significant unless heating above 500 degrees C. After the catalyst was used for the hydrogenation of alkynes, TEM coupled with convergent beam electron diffraction and electron energy loss spectroscopy analysis revealed that most of the Pd particles were lifted from the alumina surface by hydrocarbon buildup. This dramatically different morphology totally changed the sintering mechanism of Pd particles during the regeneration process. Catalytic gasification of hydrocarbon around these particles in an oxidizing environment allowed the Pd particles to move around and coalesce with each other at temperatures as low as 350 degrees C. For catalysts heating under 500 mTorr steam at 350 degrees C, steam stripped hydrocarbon catalytically at the beginning, but the reaction stopped after 4 h. Heating in air resulted in both catalytic and noncatalytic stripping of hydrocarbon.