Applied Petrochemical Research

A series of Cu–Ni bimetallic catalysts were developed and used for glycerol hydrogenolysis to produce 1,2-propanediol in the absence of added hydrogen along with the isopropanol as hydrogen donor. The monometallic Cu catalyst can catalyze the dehydrogenation of isopropanol effectively, but the Cu species would be oxidized to Cu+ which led to the catalyst deactivation. Ni incorporation can change the reduction behavior of Cu catalyst and the formation of Cu–Ni alloy might promote the hydrogenation of acetol. Furthermore, the effect of ZnO incorporation on the catalytic performance of Cu–Ni/Al2O3 bimetallic catalyst for glycerol hydrogenolysis in the absence of added hydrogen was investigated. The addition of ZnO enhanced the acidity of catalyst surface, resulting in higher C–O bond cleavage activity. Comparing the H2-TPR profiles of Cu–Ni/Al2O3 with Cu–Ni/ZnO–Al2O3, it could be clearly observed that the reduction temperature was decreased remarkably by the addition of ZnO. XRD and SEM images revealed that the addition of ZnO inhibited the catalyst sintering and favored the formation of the strong interaction between Cu–Ni species and Al2O3 by the formation of the ZnAl2O4 phase.

The discovery of novel m aterials that can be active, selective and stable catalysts for the efficient transformation of organic molecules to useful products is of high importance. In recent years, there has been significant interest in the utilisation of supported gold-based nanoparticles that can be effective catalysts for a broad range of chemical processes. In this paper, we describe and discuss the utilisation of gold-based nanoparticles as efficient catalysts for a range of important reactions, with particular emphasis placed on our team recent research.

Untreated shale oil, shale oil treated with HCl aqueous solution and shale oil treated with HCl and furfural were used to do comparative experiments in fixed bed reactors. Nitrogen compounds and condensed aromatics extracted by HCl and furfural were characterized by electrospray ionization Fourier transform cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry and gas chromatography and mass spectrometry, respectively. Compared with untreated shale oil, the conversion and yield of liquid products increased considerably after removing basic nitrogen compounds by HCl extraction. Furthermore, after removing nitrogen compounds and condensed aromatics by both HCl and furfural, the conversion and yield of liquid products further increased. In addition, N1 class species are predominant in both basic and non-basic nitrogen compounds, and they are probably indole, carbazole, cycloalkyl-carbazole, pyridine and cycloalkyl-pyridine. As for the condensed aromatics, most of them possess aromatic rings with two to three rings and zero to four carbon atom.

In this work, Ni–Al-hydrotalcite-derived catalyst modified with Fe or Mg for CO2 methanation was investigated in an attempt to improve the reaction activity at low temperature. Through the characterization of XRD, H2-TPR, and N2-BET, 0.05Fe–Ni–Al2O3-HT catalyst can be found with a better reducing property, higher surface area, better Ni dispersion, and smaller pore size. The CO2 conversion using this catalyst was tested in a fixed-bed reactor in laboratory. The result showed better reaction activity at low temperature. At 219 °C, the CO2 conversion could reach 80.8 %. Meanwhile, the highest CO2 conversion of 96.0 % was achieved at 350 °C.

A Schiff base containing the 1,2,4-triazole moiety was synthesized and added to polystyrene at low concentration for a homogenous blend. The polystyrene film was irradiated with ultraviolet light and the surface morphology was analyzed. Micrographs of the polystyrene/Schiff base blend after irradiation indicated the fabrication of a terrestrial crack-like material. This was ascribed to the presence of the Schiff base, relatively long irradiation time, and photostability induced by the base. After irradiation, the blank polystyrene film formed a cotton-like fibrous material.

The nitrogen-containing aromatic compounds found in the petrochemical industry are varied and extend beyond classes such as the anilines, pyrroles and pyridines. Quantification of these nitrogen-containing compounds that may occur in complex mixtures has practical application for quality assurance, process development and the evaluation of conversion processes. Selective detection of nitrogen-containing species in complex mixtures is possible by making use of gas chromatography coupled with a nitrogen phosphorous detector (GC-NPD), which is also called a thermionic detector. Despite the linearity of the NPD response to individual nitrogen-containing compounds, the response factor is different for different compounds and even isomers of the same species. Quantitative analysis using an NPD requires species-specific calibration. The reason for the sensitivity of the NPD to structure is related to the ease of forming the cyano-radical that is ionized to the cyanide anion, which is detected. The operation of the NPD was related to the processes of pyrolysis and subsequent ionization. It was possible to offer plausible explanations for differences in response factors for isomers based on pyrolysis chemistry. Due to this relationship, the NPD response can in the same way be used to provide information of practical relevance beyond its analytical value and a few possible applications were outlined.

Cs exchanged heteropolyacid catalysts functionalized with various Sn contents were prepared by wet impregnation method. These catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, FT-IR, Raman spectroscopy, temperature programmed desorption of ammonia and BET surface area measurements. The catalytic properties of Sn–CsPW catalysts were evaluated for the synthesis of glycerol carbonate and they exhibit an unprecedented activity for the higher glycerol conversion and selectivity towards glycerol carbonate under vacuum conditions. Sn-functionalized Cs exchanged heteropolyacid catalysts (CsPW) play a significant role in the enhancement of acidity, catalytic activity and stability. The glycerol conversion and the selectivity of carbonate formation mainly depend on the Sn content and acidity of the catalysts. Different reaction parameters such as Sn molar ratio, glycerol to urea molar ratio, reaction temperature were investigated and also optimum conditions were established. The catalyst containing molar ratio of 3:1 Sn–CsPW has shown highest conversion and glycerol carbonate selectivity.

Quá trình reforming khô metan có tiềm năng trở thành một phương pháp hiệu quả cho việc sử dụng CO2 thông qua việc sản xuất syn-gas. Trong nghiên cứu này, các xúc tác carbide bimetallic Co–Mo được hỗ trợ bởi ZrO2 đã được chuẩn bị thông qua phương pháp kết tủa đồng thời bằng quy trình giảm và cacbon hóa kết hợp sử dụng hỗn hợp CH4/H2 (20/80%). Tất cả các vật liệu được tổng hợp này đã được thử nghiệm ở 850°, dưới áp suất khí quyển và tỷ lệ CO2:CH4 là 1. Tầm quan trọng của sự hỗ trợ từ ZrO2 đã ngay lập tức trở nên rõ ràng khi nó cho thấy tỷ lệ chuyển đổi cao hơn so với xúc tác Mo2C khối có diện tích bề mặt thấp tương ứng, điều này chúng tôi quy cho các vị trí hoạt tính acid và base lewis trên bề mặt của ZrO2. Từ các thử nghiệm xúc tác và các mẫu nhiễu xạ tia X (XRD) trước và sau phản ứng, chúng tôi nhận thấy rằng sự phân tán khác nhau của các carbide đơn kim loại, do thay đổi nhiệt độ tiền gia nhiệt trên ZrO2, không ảnh hưởng đáng kể đến tỷ lệ chuyển đổi hay năng suất. Ngược lại, việc tích hợp các nguyên tử cobalt vào mạng Mo2C đã nâng cao đáng kể tỷ lệ chuyển đổi, năng suất và độ ổn định của các xúc tác. Các mẫu XRD sau phản ứng chỉ ra rằng carbide bimetallic đã cải thiện khả năng chống lại hiệu ứng oxy hóa được biết là làm mất hoạt tính xúc tác Mo2C. Ngoài ra, việc tăng cường lượng Co trong các carbide kim loại hỗn hợp cũng đã chứng minh là làm tăng khả năng chống lại phản ứng chuyển đổi nước- khí ngược, dẫn đến việc cải thiện độ ổn định của năng suất H2.