Raúl Sanz

Turning TS-1 zeolite into a highly active catalyst for olefin epoxidation with organic hydroperoxides.

A new synthesis route, based on the silanization of zeolitic seeds, has been applied to prepare nanocrystalline TS-1 zeolite with hierarchical porosity, leading to materials exhibiting high catalytic activity in 1-octene epoxidation with organic hydroperoxides as oxidizing agents.

Development of high efficiency adsorbents for CO2 capture based on a double-functionalization method of grafting and impregnation

A functionalization method based on the impregnation of previously grafted pore-expanded SBA-15 is presented. The combination of tethered and mobile amino groups has led to a synergic effect, yielding samples with CO2 uptakes up to 235 mg CO2 per g (5.34 mmol CO2 per g) at 45 °C and 0.15 bar CO2 and high adsorption efficiencies.

Development of crystallinity and photocatalytic properties in porous TiO2 by mild acid treatment

Crystallization of amorphous mesoporous TiO2 synthesized by a surfactant-templated sol–gel route has been investigated by different methods in order to generate materials with photocatalytic properties. Crystallization by hydrothermal treatment is not a convenient alternative, as it leads to a strong reduction of the textural properties due to excessive coalescence of the inorganic framework. A new crystallization route, based on the treatment of m-TiO2 xerogels with acid–ethanol mixtures under reflux, has been investigated. Sulfuric and phosphoric acids cause severe structural and porous damage, whereas nitric and hydrochloric acids lead to the development of TiO2 photocatalysts with convenient textural properties. These last two acids produce the selective crystallization into anatase, the most active phase of titania in photocatalysis, with small nanocrystals being present within the pore walls. The materials so obtained are characterized by exhibiting high surface areas (210–260 m2 g−1), with an important contribution of microporosity and good photocatalytic activity for trichloroethylene degradation in the aqueous phase. In particular, the best balance between the textural and photocatalytic properties was achieved when the crystallization was carried out by treatment with a 0.5 wt% HCl–ethanol mixture.

Preparation of bimodal micro-mesoporous TiO2 with tailored crystalline properties.

A new mild crystallization procedure has been applied after a synthesis route in the presence of a non-ionic surfactant, leading to the preparation of bimodal micro-mesoporous TiO2, with remarkable textural properties and pore walls formed by anatase nanocrystals, which exhibit photocatalytic activity.

An investigation of the textural properties of mesostructured silica-based adsorbents for predicting CO2 adsorption capacity

Among the technologies proposed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adsorption with porous solids has been widely studied in the past few years. Herein, up to 30 inorganic porous adsorbents have been studied, obtaining their CO2 uptake at 45 °C and ambient pressure, typical conditions of industrial post-combustion facilities after the desulphurization step. A clear relationship between CO2 adsorption capacity and the combination of surface area (SBET) and sorbent affinity towards gas molecules through C parameter was found. This study provides novel findings that allow the prediction of CO2 uptake in mesostructured silica physisorbents from their textural properties.