Porous stainless-steel fibers supported CuCeFeOx/Zeolite catalysts for the enhanced CO oxidation: Experimental and kinetic studies

To develop novel catalysts of high-performance and cost-effectiveness, and to investigate the reaction kinetics of CO oxidation, ternary CuCeFeO_x catalysts supported on zeolite/PSF (porous stainless-steel fibers) were synthesized for the first time. Effects of different Ce/Fe ratios, loading amounts, calcination temperatures, and reaction kinetics were investigated. Remarkably improved catalytic performance was achieved in the PSF-supported catalysts compared to the granular ones, owing to the increased mass/heat transfer efficiency and the high dispersion of active metal oxide species anchored on the zeolite layer. The Cu₃Ce₁₂Fe₄-400 sample exhibited the best catalytic activity with a temperature difference in T₉₀ of almost 40 °C lower than the worst one. Characterization results from XRD, FTIR, TEM, XPS, H₂-TPR, etc. revealed that the promoted reducibility of metal oxides and formation of more oxygen vacancies significantly contributed to the enhanced catalytic activity. Furthermore, a generalized rate expression was derived from intrinsic and macro kinetic studies by assuming the conversion of CO to CO₂ as the rate-determining step, in which CO oxidation over the PSF-supported catalysts followed the pseudo-first-order kinetic established by the Langmuir-Hinshelwood type mechanism.

2D-COS of in situ μ-Raman and in situ IR spectra for structure evolution characterisation of NEP-deposited cobalt oxide catalyst during n-nonane combustion

New catalytic systems are still in development to meet the challenge of regulations concerning the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This is because such compounds have a significant impact on air quality and some of them are toxic to the environment and human beings. The catalytic combustion process of VOCs over non-noble metal catalysts is of great interest to researchers. The high conversion parameters and cost effective preparation makes them a valuable alternative to monoliths and noble metal catalysts. In this study, the cobalt catalyst was prepared by non-equilibrium plasma deposition of organic precursor on calcined kanthal steel. Thus prepared, cobalt oxide based microstructural short-channel reactors were tested for n-nonane combustion and the catalyst surfaces were examined by in situ μ-Raman spectroscopy and in situ infrared spectroscopy. The spectra collected at various temperatures were used in generalised two-dimensional correlation analysis to establish the sequential order of spectral intensity changes and correlate the simultaneous changes in bands selectively coupled by different interaction mechanisms. The 2D synchronous and asynchronous contour maps were proved to be a valuable extension to the standard analysis of the temperature dependent 1D spectra.

Fourier Transform Infrared and Quasielectron Neutron Scattering Studies on the Binding Modes of Methanol Molecules in the Confined Spaces of HMCM-41 and HZSM-5: Role of Pore Structure and Surface Acid Sites

Quasielastic neutron scattering (QENS) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic studies were carried out on methanol molecules adsorbed in HMCM-41 and HZSM-5 molecular sieves to monitor the effect of pore structure on their occluded state under the conditions of ambient temperature and 5-250 mbar pressures. The QENS results have shown that the pore geometry of the host matrix and the dipolar character of the adsorbate are together responsible for the binding state of guest molecules in the confining medium. Thus, neither translational nor free rotational motion was noticed for methanol molecules adsorbed in HZSM-5, in contrast to benzene and cyclohexane molecules of almost similar size that are reported to undergo a rotational motion under the identical conditions of loading (Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 2001, 3, 4449; 2003, 5, 3066). In the case of HMCM-41, a translational motion of occluded methanol molecules was clearly observed with a diffusion constant D approximately 1.5 x 10(-5) cm2 s(-1), as compared to a value of D approximately 2.6 x 10(-5) cm2 s(-1) for its liquid state. These results indicate that the adsorbed methanol experiences a considerable extent of supercooling due to capillary condensation in zeolitic pores, giving rise to formation of a metastable state even at room temperature. In HZSM-5, entrapped methanol exists in an almost solidlike state, whereas in HMCM-41, its density lies between that of the solid and the liquid phases. Infrared spectroscopic study conducted using deuterium-labeled adsorbate and host matrixes have given evidence for different kinds of interactions between the methanol molecules and the host matrix, depending upon the loading. For small loadings the internal hydroxy groups within the pore system get perturbed first, giving rise to formation of the methoxy groups. Multilayer adsorption and capillary condensation of methanol occur for a loading of 0.05 mmol per gram and above, within the pore system and also at the external surface, giving rise to a highly compressed state due to strong intermolecular bonding. At the same time, a considerable amount of exchange occurred between the hydroxy groups of the adsorbed methanol and those of the host matrix. Such exchange of hydroxy groups may play an important role in the catalytic properties of the porous aluminosilicates.

Adsorption of NO and CO over transition-metal-incorporated mesoporous catalytic materials

Novel high-surface-area mesoporous catalysts of type Al-MCM-41 containing transition metals such as iron, nickel, cobalt, zinc, copper, and cobalt were prepared and characterized using techniques such as BET, FTIR, ICP-MS, XPS, and XRD. The XPS measurements indicated that the transition-metal particles are located in the bulk or pore channels of the Al-MCM-41 materials. A detailed in situ FTIR investigation undertaken on the adsorption and disproportionation of NO and CO over the transition-metal-Al-MCM-41 mesoporous catalysts indicated the formation of various NO/CO species or complexes with active metal sites. The structure and dynamics of the metal activated complex and reactive species formed during the CO/NO reaction together with advantages of these catalysts and the influence of reaction temperature and pressure have been studied. NO adsorption at room temperature leads to the formation of adsorbed N(2)O, NO(2), MNO(2), MNO, and [M(NO)(2)] complexes. CO adsorption at room temperature leads to the formation of physisorbed carbon dioxide and cationic Lewis acid carbonyl moieties as well as transition-metal carbonyl complexes. The copper mesoporous catalysts prepared by different procedures (ion exchanged and as-synthesized) were compared for their interactions with CO and NO probe molecules.

FTIR study of carbon monoxide adsorption on ion-exchanged X, Y and mordenite type zeolites

In this work Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) study has been applied to study the adsorption of carbon monoxide on transition metal (Mn2+, Co2 Ni2+) ion-exchanged zeolites type Y, X and mordenites. The adsorption of CO at room temperature produces overlapping IR absorption bands in the 2120?2200 cm-1 region. The frequency of the band around 2200 cm-1 is found to be dependent not only on the charge-balancing transition metal cation but also on the framework composition. The frequencies of the band near 1600 cm-1 was found to be dependent on the Si/Al ratio of the investigated zeolites.