Coke Formation and Its Effects on Shape Selective Adsorptive and Catalytic Properties of Ferrierite

Formation and Regeneration of Shape-Selective ZSM-35 Catalysts for n-Butene Skeletal Isomerization to Isobutene

Skeletal isomerization of n-butene to isobutene was performed over formed ZSM-35 zeolites in a lab-scale, fixed-bed reactor. The formation conditions to produce isobutene with zeolites were varied to determine the most advantageous binding agent (pseudo-boehmite) amount and steam dealumination conditions. The optimal binding agent amount was 20 wt %. Steam dealumination stabilized the catalysts and enhanced the catalytic performance because of the stable Si/Al framework and suitable acidity. The optimized process conditions involved a reaction temperature of 410 °C, a weight hourly space velocity of 5 h^-1, and an n-butene concentration in feedstock of 50%. After being on-stream for 296 h, the catalysts were stable and were able to be regenerated with a comparable catalytic performance. An isobutene yield of 33-43 wt % was achieved, and the selectivity of isobutene was higher than 90% after the reaction was carried out for longer than 15 h. Carbon deposition modified the pore structure to enhance the selectivity of isobutene because of the selective shape effect. This study shows promising results for future industrialization of the skeletal isomerization of n-butene to isobutene in the presence of optimized ZSM-35 catalysts.

Designing ferrierite-based catalysts with improved properties for skeletal isomerization of n-butene to isobutene

The crystal morphology and size of ferrierite catalysts were controlled by a suite of crystallization methods and structure-directing agents.

Things go better with coke: the beneficial role of carbonaceous deposits in heterogeneous catalysis

Carbonaceous deposits on heterogeneous catalysts are traditionally associated with catalyst deactivation. However, they can play a beneficial role in many catalytic processes, e.g. dehydrogenation, hydrogenation, alkylation, isomerisation, Fischer–Tropsch, MTO etc. This review highlights the role and mechanism by which coke deposits can enhance catalytic performance.

Carbon nanotube mass production: principles and processes

Our society requires new materials for a sustainable future, and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are among the most important advanced materials. This Review describes the state-of-the-art of CNT synthesis, with a focus on their mass-production in industry. At the nanoscale, the production of CNTs involves the self-assembly of carbon atoms into a one-dimensional tubular structure. We describe how this synthesis can be achieved on the macroscopic scale in processes akin to the continuous tonne-scale mass production of chemical products in the modern chemical industry. Our overview includes discussions on processing methods for high-purity CNTs, and the handling of heat and mass transfer problems. Manufacturing strategies for agglomerated and aligned single-/multiwalled CNTs are used as examples of the engineering science of CNT production, which includes an understanding of their growth mechanism, agglomeration mechanism, reactor design, and process intensification. We aim to provide guidelines for the production and commercialization of CNTs. Although CNTs can now be produced on the tonne scale, knowledge of the growth mechanism at the atomic scale, the relationship between CNT structure and application, and scale-up of the production of CNTs with specific chirality are still inadequate. A multidisciplinary approach is a prerequisite for the sustainable development of the CNT industry.