Fucun Chen

Activity enhancement of ZSM-35 in dimethyl ether carbonylation reaction through alkaline modifications

A series of ZSM-35 zeolites with different alkaline treatment degrees were prepared. The precise effects of alkaline treatment on composition, morphology, porosity, transportation and acidity of the samples were characterized by means of multiple techniques including N2 sorption, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), intelligent gravimetric analyzer (IGA) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). ZSM-35 after moderate alkaline treatment exhibited enhanced carbonylation activity compared with the parent sample. As revealed by the N2 adsorption and TEM results, alkaline treatment could induce the deaggregation of ZSM-35 clusters and remove the amorphous debris on the surface of ZSM-35 platelets. Furthermore, an improved diffusion behavior of the dimethyl ether reactant molecule was observed on the alkali-treated sample from IGA experiments which directly led to the better catalytic performance for the carbonylation of the dimethyl ether with carbon monoxide. Mesoporosity created by severe alkaline leaching does not enhance the catalytic properties of ZSM-35 in dimethyl ether carbonylation reaction. Especially, a decrease in reaction stability was observed due to the limitation effect of carbonaceous deposit formation.

A Facile Top‐Down Protocol for Postsynthesis Modification of Hierarchical Aluminum‐Rich MFI Zeolites

High aluminum content constitutes a major hurdle for the postsynthesis modification of hierarchical zeolites. A facile protocol comprising fluorination and sequential alkaline treatment is presented for the postsynthesis modification of hierarchical Al-rich MFI zeolites. By virtue of this protocol, uniform intracrystalline mesoporosity is introduced in an Al-rich MFI zeolite (Si/Al = 14.3). The obtained hierarchical zeolites exhibit a significant mesopore size distribution, centered around 6 nm, and show improved conversions in catalytic cracking of bulky aromatic molecules. The fundamental implications of the fluorination-alkaline treatment protocol are related to the formation of F-bearing tetrahedral aluminum species in the antecedent fluorination step, which alleviates the resistance of Al sites to the alkaline medium and causes Al-F complexation for regulated hydrolysis of the Al species during the alkaline treatment process. This top-down protocol and the derived mechanistic understandings are expected to be applied in the synthesis of hierarchical Al-rich zeolites with other framework topologies.

Highly selective ethylbenzene production through alkylation of dilute ethylene with gas phase-liquid phase benzene and transalkylation feed

Abstract A novel industrial process was designed for the highly selective production of ethylbenzene. It comprised of a reactor vessel, vapor phase ethylene feed stream, benzene and transalkylation feed stream. Especially the product stream containing ethylbenzene was used to heat the reactor vessel, which consisted of an alkylation section, an upper heat exchange section, and a bottom heat exchange section. In such a novel reactor, vapor phase benzene and liquid phase benzene were coexisted due to the heat produced by isothermal reaction between the upper heat exchange section and the bottom heat exchange section. The process was demonstrated by the thermodynamic analysis and experimental results. In fact, during the 1010 hour-life-test of gas phase ethene with gas phase-liquid phase benzene alkylation reaction, the ethene conversion was above 95%, and the ethylbenzene selectivity was above 83% (only benzene feed) and even higher than 99% (benzene plus transalkylation feed). At the same time, the xylene content in the ethylbenzene was less than 100 ppm when the reaction was carried out under the reaction conditions of 140–185 °C of temperature, 1.6–2.1 MPa of pressure, 3.0–5.5 of benzene/ethylene mole ratio, 4–6 v% of transalkylation feed/(benzene+transalkylation feed), 0.19–0.27 h −1 of ethene space velocity, and 1000 g of 3998 catalyst loaded. Thus, compared with the conventional ethylbenzene synthesis route, the transalkylation reactor could be omitted in this novel industrial process.

1-Butene isomerization and metathesis over Mo/mordenite-alumina: Factors influencing product distribution and induction period

Abstract Effects of space velocity, reaction temperature and support acidity on product distribution and induction period in 1-butene isomerization and metathesis over Mo/mordenite-alumina were investigated. As revealed by the catalytic performance results, induction period and objective product were closely related to the reaction conditions. Lower space velocity led to longer induction period and higher propene yield. The optimal reaction temperature for propene production is around 150 °C and it shifted to 100 °C for ethene production. 1-Butene auto-metathesis predominated in the reaction network if the support with lower degree of sodium exchanged. And propene gradually became the dominant product upon increasing the support sodium exchange degree. 6Mo/H 100 Na 0 M-30Al catalyst with a support of full sodium exchange degree exhibited the highest propene yield.

Thermodynamic study of direct amination of isobutylene to tert-butylamine

On basis of thermodynamic empirical equations, the thermodynamic parameters for the direct amination of isobutylene to tert-butylamine, an atomically economic and green chemical reaction, were calculated. In particular, the equilibrium conversion of isobutylene under various reaction conditions close to those used in industry was calculated and discussed. Isobutylene amination is a temperature sensitive reaction due to its exothermic nature and isobutylene equilibrium conver-sion decreases with temperature. However, kinetically, the amination reaction will be faster at a higher temperature. Thus, there must be an optimum temperature for the reaction. A high pressure and n (NH 3 )/ n (i-C 4 H 8 ) molar ratio promote the transformation of isobutylene to tert-butylamine. Developing a highly efficient catalyst under mild reaction conditions is preferred for the amination process. The reaction was investigated over a series of acidic zeolites. ZSM-11 zeolite exhibited the best performance with 14.2% isobutylene conversion (52.2% of the equilibrium conversion) and > 99.0% tert-butylamine selectivity. The effect of reaction conditions on the performance of the ZSM-11 catalyst agreed with the thermodynamic results, which provides guidance for further cata-lyst development and reaction condition optimization.

Synthesis of FER zeolite with piperidine as structure-directing agent and its catalytic application

Abstract The synthesis of ferrierite (FER) zeolite using piperidine as an organic structure-directing agent was investigated. X-ray diffraction, X-ray fluorescence, N2-adsorption, and scanning electron microscopy were used to characterize the crystal phases, textural properties, and particle morphologies of the zeolite samples. The crystallization behavior of the FER zeolite was found to be directly related to crystallization temperature. At 150 °C, pure FER phase was observed throughout crystallization. At 160–170 °C, MWW phase appeared first and gradually transformed into FER phase over time, indicating that the FER phase was thermodynamically favored. In the piperidine-Na2O-H2O synthetic system, alkalinity proved to be the crucial factor determining the size and textural properties of FER zeolite. Furthermore, the obtained FER samples exhibited good catalytic performance in the skeletal isomerization of 1-butene.

Co-feeding with DME: An effective way to enhance gasoline production via low temperature aromatization of LPG

The aromatization of light alkenes in liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) with and without dimethyl ether (DME) addition in the feed was investigated on a modified ZSM-5 catalyst. The results showed that under the given reaction conditions the selectivity of alkenes to high-octane gasoline blending components was markedly enhanced and the formation of propane and butanes was greatly suppressed with the addition of DME. It was also found that the distribution of C5+ components was changed a lot with DME addition into the LPG feed. The formation of branched hydrocarbons (mainly C-6-C-8 i-paraffin) and multi-methyl substituted aromatics, which are high octane number gasoline blending components, was promoted significantly, while the content of n-paraffins and olefins in C5+ components was decreased obviously, indicating that in addition to the oligomerization, cracking, hydrogen-transfer and dehydrogenation-cyclization of alkenes, the methylation of the formed aromatics and olefins intermediates also plays an important role in determining the product distribution due to the high reactivity of surface methoxy groups formed by DME. And this process, in combination with the syngas-to-methanol/DME technology, provides an alternative way to the production of high-octane gasoline from coal, natural gas or renewable raw materials.

Direct synthesis of three-dimensional MWW zeolite with cyclohexylamine as an organic structure-directing agent

MCM-49 zeolite with a three-dimensional MWW framework was directly synthesized using low-toxicity and cost-effective cyclohexylamine (CHA) as an organic structure-directing agent under hydrothermal conditions. Compared with the traditional hexamethyleneimine template, the interaction between CHA with the framework was weaker and more CHA molecules occupied the surface pockets and supercages of as-synthesized MCM-49 zeolite. The obtained sample showed good catalytic performance in the liquid phase alkylation reaction of benzene with ethylene.

Metathesis of 1-Butene to Propene over Mo/Al2O3@SBA-15: Influence of Alumina Introduction Methods on Catalytic Performance

A series of Mo-based catalysts for 1-butene metathesis to propene were prepared by supporting Mo species on SBA-15 premodified with alumina. The effects of the method of introduction of the alumina guest to the host SBA-15 on the location of the Mo species and the corresponding metathesis activity were studied. As revealed by N2 adsorption isotherms and TEM results, well-dispersed alumina was formed on the pore walls of SBA-15 if the ammonia/water vapor induced hydrolysis (NIH) method was employed. The Mo species preferentially interacted with alumina instead of SBA-15, as evidenced by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry, and IR spectroscopy of adsorbed pyridine. Furthermore, new Brønsted acid sites favorable for the dispersion of the Mo species and low-temperature metathesis activity were generated as a result of the effective synergy between the alumina and SBA-15. The Mo/Al2O3@SBA-15 catalyst prepared by the NIH method showed higher metathesis activity and stability under the conditions of 120 °C, 0.1 MPa, and 1.5 h(-1) than catalysts prepared by other methods.