Xiangxue Zhu

The effect of acidity on olefin aromatization over potassium modified ZSM-5 catalysts

The transformation of olefin to aromatics over ZSM-5 catalysts with different K-loadings has been investigated both in a continuous flow fixed-bed reactor and in a pulse microreactor. Investigation of variation of olefin aromatization activity with K-loadings shows that strong acid sites are indispensable for the converting of olefin to aromatics. As intermediates of olefin aromatization process, butadiene and cyclopentene not only show much higher aromatization activity than mono-olefins, but also can be transformed into aromatics over relatively weak acid sites of K/ZSM-5. A proposal is put forward, stating that among all the steps experienced in olefins aromatization, the formation of diene or cycloolefin from mono-olefins through hydrogen transfer is the key step and can be catalyzed by strong acid sites.

Thermal and hydrothermal stabilities of the alkali-treated HZSM-5 zeolites

Abstract HZSM-5 zeolites with the micro-mesopore hierarchical porosity have been prepared by the post-synthesis of alkali-treatment, and their thermal and hydrothermal stabilities were studied using DTA, XRD, and NH 3 -TPD characterization techniques. Compared to the unmodified zeolite, the thermal and hydrothermal stabilities of the alkali-treated ZSM-5 zeolites were slightly deteriorated because of the introduction of mesopores caused by the desilication. Nevertheless, the alkali-treated zeolite framework could be maintained until the temperature increased to 1175 °C.

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.

Acidity effects of Hβ zeolite on olefin alkylation of thiophenic sulfur in gasoline

Abstract Olefin alkylation of thiophenic sulfur process was carried out in model gasoline, using Hβ zeolites with different Si/Al2 ratios as catalysts. In particular, the influence of acid properties of Hβ zeolites on its catalytic ability for the thiophene alkylation, xylene alkylation and hexene oligomerization was investigated. The results showed that the acidity of the Hβ zeolite was increased with the decrease of Si/Al2 ratio, but its catalytic ability was not always increased. In fact, it reached the maximal catalytic ability at Si/Al2 ratio of 66, and under the reaction conditions of 60 °C, 1.5 MPa, WHSV 3.0 h−1 and time on stream 2 h. At the ratio, the conversion of thiophene, xylene, and oligomerized hexene were 96.6%, 2.7% and 2.8%, respectively. An optimal Si/Al2 ratio exists for the catalytic performance of Hβ zeolite. By investigating the coke deposition of the used Hβ zeolite catalysts, it has been found that the optimal Si/Al2 ratio is attributed to the combined effect of the carbocation activation capability and the hydrogen transformation capability of the Hβ zeolite catalyst.

Catalytic Degradation of LDPE and PP over MCM-49 Based Micro-Mesoporous Composites

Micro–mesoporous composites were prepared by post-treatment of MCM-49, and applied to degrade low-density polyethylene (LDPE) and polypropylene. It was found that LDPE degradation mainly occurred on the external surface of MCM-49. The highest activity was achieved over the sample with large external surface area and relatively high acid site concentration. The main products of LDPE degradation were liquefied petroleum gas and gasoline range hydrocarbons, and the product selectivity depended on the acid site concentration.Graphical Abstract

A shaped binderless ZSM-11 zeolite catalyst for direct amination of isobutene to tert -butylamine

A shaped binderless and two binder-containing ZSM-11 zeolite catalysts were prepared and char-acterized by powder X-ray diffraction, N 2 adsorption-desorption, and pyridine adsorption-infrared measurements. The binderless catalyst was synthesized using a dry-gel conversion technique, in which 1,6-hexanediamine and tetrabutylammonium bromide were used as structure-directing agents and no other alkaline materials were added. The catalytic performance of the zeolites in the direct amination of isobutene to tert -butylamine was evaluated in a fixed-bed reactor. By virtue of its high crystallinity as well as its good mechanical strength, the shaped binderless ZSM-11 catalyst showed a higher rate of formation of tert -butylamine than did the binder-containing catalysts.

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.

On the Reactivity of Mo Species for Methane Partial Oxidation on Mo/HMCM-22 Catalysts

By characterizing fresh and used Mo/HMCM-22 catalysts with ICP-AES, XRD, NH3-TPD technique, UV-Vis DRS and UV Raman spectroscopy, the reactivity of Mo species for methane partial oxidation into formaldehyde were directly studied with a new point of view. By comparing the fresh and used catalysts, it was found that the tetrahedral Mo species bonding chemically to the support surface were practically unchanged after the reaction, while the polymolybdate octahedral Mo species, which had a rather weak interaction with the MCM-22 zeolite, leached out during the reaction, especially when the Mo loading was high. Correspondingly, it was found from the time-on-stream reaction data that the HCHO yield remained unchanged, while COxdecreased with the reaction time during the reaction. By combining the characterization results and the reaction data, it can be drawn that the isolated tetrahedral molybdenum oxo-species (Td) is responsible for HCHO formation, while the octahedral polyoxomolybdate species (Oh) will lead to the total oxidation of methane.

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.