Steam reforming of ethanol for hydrogen production over Cu/Co-Mg-Al-based catalysts prepared by hydrotalcite route

The performances of different 5Cu/Co_xMg_6-xAl₂ (x = 0; 2; 4; 6) catalysts prepared by the wet impregnation method were investigated in the ethanol steam-reforming reaction (ESR) at 450 °C during 4 h under a steam/ethanol ratio of 3 (S/E = 3). The best catalyst among the prepared solids was 5Cu/Co₆Al₂ as it showed a complete ethanol conversion and the highest hydrogen and carbon dioxide productivities. However, following 50 h of aging, the catalyst deactivated due to the formation of a high amount of carbonaceous products detected by differential scanning calorimetry/thermogravimetry. On the other hand, the 5Cu/Co₂Mg₄Al₂ catalyst showed a much lower quantity of coke deposition with no deactivation due to the basic character conferred by the magnesium oxide phase.

Influence of the presence of ruthenium on the activity and stability of Co-Mg-Al-based catalysts in CO2 reforming of methane for syngas production

Hydrogen production by methane dry reforming is an important yet challenging process. A performing catalyst will favor the thermodynamic equilibrium while ensuring good hydrogen selectivity. We hereby report the synthesis of Co _x Mg_6-x Al₂ (with x = 2 and 6) mixed oxide catalysts synthesized via hydrotalcite precursors and the synthesis of a ruthenium-based catalyst on a cobalt, magnesium, and aluminum mixed oxide supports Ru/Co _x Mg_6-x Al₂ (with x = 2 and 6). The impregnation of ruthenium on the hydrotalcites was performed in two ways: by impregnation on the dried hydrotalcite and by memory effect on hydrotalcite calcined at 500 °C. The deposition of ruthenium by memory effect of the magnesium and cobalt support allows the generation of both metallic and basic sites which provides an active and stable catalyst for the dry reforming reaction of methane.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of homoserine lactone derived ureas as antagonists of bacterial quorum sensing

A series of 15 racemic alkyl- and aryl-N-substituted ureas, derived from homoserine lactone, were synthesized and tested for their ability to competitively inhibit the action of 3-oxohexanoyl-l-homoserine lactone, the natural inducer of bioluminescence in the bacterium Vibrio fischeri. N-alkyl ureas with an alkyl chain of at least 4 carbon atoms, as well as certain ureas bearing a phenyl group at the extremity of the alkyl chain, were found to be significant antagonists. In the case of N-butyl urea, it has been shown that the antagonist activity was related to the inhibition of the dimerisation of the N-terminal domain of ExpR, a protein of the receptor LuxR family. Molecular modelling suggested that this would result from the formation of an additional hydrogen bond in the protein acylhomoserine lactone binding cavity.