Sandeep K. Saxena

Breakthrough mesopore creation in BEA and its enhanced catalytic performance in solvent-free liquid phase tert-butylation of phenol

Here we report a breakthrough increase in porosity of a BEA zeolite (1.1822 cm3 g−1) through mesopore creation (mesopores contribute to 93% pore volume with an average pore diameter of 10.5 nm) by employing a sequential treatment of alkali and ammonium nitrate without causing any structural damage to the zeolite. The material exhibited enhanced catalytic properties in the tert-butylation of phenol in terms of phenol conversion and 2,4 di-TBP selectivity in the solvent-free liquid phase reaction.

Facile synthesis of mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles for the selective production of N-benzylidenaniline in a solvent-free reaction of aniline with benzyl alcohol

Herein we report a simple method for the synthesis of mesoporous aluminosilicate nanoparticles (∼20 nm) by adopting a novel solvent-free physical mixing method, using TPABr as a precursor for the structure directing agent. The samples are characterized by SEM, TEM, XRD, FT-IR and N2 adsorption–desorption studies. The materials exhibited novel catalytic properties towards solvent-free N-alkylation of aniline with benzyl alcohol for the selective production of N-benzylidenaniline (100% selectivity) under mild reaction conditions (100 °C and atmospheric pressure), thus providing economical and environmentally benign processes for the synthesis and reaction applications of the AlSi nano-materials.

The Transformation of Light Paraffins to LPG and Aromatics Over a Ni/ZSM-5 Catalyst

Abstract Ni/ZSM-5 catalyst is prepared using an incipient wet impregnation method with 4 wt% of Ni on mildly framework dealuminated ZSM-5 and studied for its physicochemical properties and light alkane conversions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and pore size distribution studies envisioned the formation of Ni crystallites smaller than 0.55 nm in the zeolite pore channels of Ni/ZSM-5. The Ni/ZSM-5 exhibited better cracking and produced more liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) in the presence of N2 (LPG mode) and better aromatization activity in the presence of H2 (aromatic mode). This has resulted in the production of gasoline blending stock with a Research Octane Number (RON) of 91.

Facile synthesis of bio-fuel from glycerol over zinc aluminium phosphate nanoplates

Herein, nanoplates of crystalline zinc aluminum phosphate exhibiting hexagonal and square planar morphology were successfully synthesized by adopting a novel and simple synthesis method; in this method, a single template, TPABr, was used in minute amounts and a shorter synthesis time of 24 h was required. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FTIR, SEM, XPS, TEM, thermal analysis, ICP, and ammonia TPD. The synthesis temperature governed the morphology of the nanoplates; however, irrespective of the shape of the nanoplates, the materials exhibited promising catalytic activity towards the production of bio-fuel solketal (2,2-dimethyl-1,3-dioxolane-4-methanol), a valuable bio-fuel, via acetalization of biodiesel waste glycerol under solvent-free reaction conditions.

A Comparative Study of the Esterification Activity of Nanosized H-ZSM-5 with Commercial H-ZSM-5 and H-Beta Zeolite

Abstract Nanosized H-ZSM-5 (NZ) was synthesized and characterized for BET surface area, pore volume, pore size distribution, and acidity. The catalyst was tested toward esterification of cyclohexanol with acetic acid under autogenous pressure condition and the activity was compared with that of commercial H-ZSM-5 (HZ) and H-beta zeolite (BZ). Nanosized H-ZSM-5 was found to be more active than commercial H-ZSM-5, whereas beta zeolite showed remarkably higher activity than H-ZSM-5 and nanosized H-ZSM-5. The catalysts exhibited the increasing activity in the order of HZ < NZ < BZ. The superior activity of BZ was found to be due to higher Brønsted acidity and higher surface area. The maximum conversion was found to be 72% for H-beta zeolite, whereas nanosized H-ZSM-5 gave 69% conversion in esterification reaction.