Archive for September, 2012

Theoretical study of palladium leaching

A collaboration of scientists in China, Germany and Singapore have used a computational model to study palladium leaching processes under a carbon monoxide atmosphere. 

Deactivation of solid catalysts is an important issue in chemical industries and other catalytic applications. One of the causes of deactivation is the loss of active component due to corrosion or leaching by the reaction medium.

The team found that the loss of the active metal component is governed by the structure of the catalyst surface and the pressure (coverage) of carbon monoxide. They concluded that Pd leaching is likely under common catalytic conditions.

To read about the proposed mechanism by which this occurs, read the article now…

Theoretical study on the leaching of palladium in a CO atmosphere
C.-R. Chang et al., Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012

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Taking in situ catalysis to a new level

Resolving kinetics and dynamics of a catalytic reaction inside a fixed bed reactor by combined kinetic and spectroscopic profiling Raimund Horn and colleagues have combined the measurement of kinetic and spectroscopy reactor profiles to establish catalyst structure–function relationships in this HOT Catalysis Science & Technology paper. 

Their research focuses on the oxidative dehydrogenation of ethane to ethylene using a MoO3 based catalyst supported on γ-alumina spheres.  We are shown how measuring spatially resolved kinetic and spectroscopic profiles along the centreline of a fixed bed tubular reactor can be used to resolve the dynamics of a catalyst under working conditions.

For more details, download the article now…

Resolving kinetics and dynamics of a catalytic reaction inside a fixed bed reactor by combined kinetic and spectroscopic profiling
Michael Geske,  Oliver Korup and Raimund Horn
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012
DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20489D

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Keeping coke in check

There’s always room for improvement and with this at the forefront of their minds, Giuseppe Bellussi and colleagues from Eni, Italy have focused on “converting the bottom of the barrel” – that is, turning high molecualr weight oil fractions into lighter compounds in the more useful boiling point range.

There are several different technologies that address this (see the Catalysis Science & Technology article for more information) but Bellussi et al. have concentrated their efforts on upgrading the slurry bed technology – a process that so far has seen limited industrial development.

The slurry technology that Eni put their cracking catalyst/Mo2S catalyst to use in

The key to their success in fully converting the heavy and extra heavy oils into the middle distillates was using a dual catalyst – a catalytic system which comprises both a conventional cracking catalyst and nano dispersed molybdenum disulfide, the latter of which is responsible for protecting the cracking catalyst from coke and metal deposition.

For more details, download the article now…

The role of MoS2 nano-slabs in the protection of the heterogeneous cracking catalyst for the total conversion of heavy oils to good quality distillates
Giuseppe Bellussi, Giacomo Rispoli, Daniele Molinari, Alberto Landoni, Paolo Pollesel, Nicoletta Panariti, Roberto Millini and Erica Montanari

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Catalysis in industry themed issue now online

This month’s Catalysis Science & Technology issue is the devoted to Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industry.

The themed issue which is guest edited by Professors Hans de Vries (DSM and University of Groningen) and David Jackson (University of Glasgow) comprises a selection of articles that illustrate the research necessary for moving a reaction off the lab bench and into the industrial plant. Unsurprisingly, catalytic research is often key to this journey.

Catalysis in industry front coverSelect the links below to read the Editorial and review articles. The full issue can be accessed here.

Editorial
Homogeneous and Heterogeneous Catalysis in Industry; Johannes G. de Vries and S. David Jackson

Perspective
First-principles kinetic modeling in heterogeneous catalysis: an industrial perspective on best-practice, gaps and needs; Maarten K. Sabbe, Marie-Françoise Reyniers and Karsten Reuter

Mini Review
Advances in conversion of hemicellulosic biomass to furfural and upgrading to biofuels; Saikat Dutta, Sudipta De, Basudeb Saha and Md. Imteyaz Alam

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Top ten most accessed articles in July

This month sees the following articles in Catalysis Science & Technology that are in the top ten most accessed:-

Catalytic activity of unsupported gold nanoparticles 
Yusuke Mikami ,  Amarajothi Dhakshinamoorthy ,  Mercedes Alvaro and Hermenegildo García  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20068F  

Graphene-based materials for catalysis 
Bruno F. Machado and Philippe Serp  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 54-75 DOI: 10.1039/C1CY00361E  

Advances in conversion of hemicellulosic biomass to furfural and upgrading to biofuels 
Saikat Dutta ,  Sudipta De ,  Basudeb Saha and Md. Imteyaz Alam  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 2025-2036 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20235B  

Role of mixed metal oxides in catalysis science—versatile applications in organic synthesis 
Manoj B. Gawande ,  Rajesh K. Pandey and Radha V. Jayaram 
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 1113-1125 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY00490A  

Conversion of lignocellulose into renewable chemicals by heterogeneous catalysis 
Hirokazu Kobayashi ,  Hidetoshi Ohta and Atsushi Fukuoka  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 869-883 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY00500J  

Enhanced photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue by ZnO–reduced graphene oxide–carbon nanotube composites synthesized via microwave-assisted reaction 
Tian Lv ,  Likun Pan ,  Xinjuan Liu and Zhuo Sun  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20023F  

Direct coupling of alcohols to form esters and amides with evolution of H2 using in situ formed ruthenium catalysts 
Martin H. G. Prechtl ,  Kathrin Wobser ,  Nils Theyssen ,  Yehoshoa Ben-David ,  David Milstein and Walter Leitner  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 2039-2042 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20429K  

Self-assembled monolayer coated gold-nanoparticle catalyzed aerobic oxidation of a-hydroxy ketones in water: an efficient one-pot synthesis of quinoxaline derivatives 
Tamalika Bhattacharya ,  Tridib K. Sarma and Sampak Samanta  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20438J  

Diesel fuel from biomass 
Carlo Perego and Marco Ricci  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012,2, 1776-1786 DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20326J  

Challenges in the catalytic synthesis of cyclic and polymeric carbonates from epoxides and CO2 
Paolo P. Pescarmona and Masoumeh Taherimehr  
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, Advance Article DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20365K  

Why not take a look at the articles today and blog your thoughts and comments below.

Fancy submitting an article to Catalysis Science & Technology ? Then why not submit to us today or alternatively email us your suggestions.

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Cheaper catalyst for Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

K-promoted Mo carbide catalyst could replace expensive Pt in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis

A potassium-promoted Mo carbide catalyst system for hydrocarbon synthesisThis HOT paper reports the promotional effect of potassium addition to an alumina-supported molybdenum carbide catalyst in Fischer–Tropsch synthesis of higher hydrocarbons like olefins and paraffins.  Such a catalyst could replace expensive expensive platinum catalysts for liquid fuel production.

Download the manuscript to find out more…

A potassium-promoted Mo carbide catalyst system for hydrocarbon synthesis
Dai-Viet N. Vo and Adesoji A. Adesina
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20385E, Paper

You might also find the following articles interesting…

Low temperature hydrogenolysis of waxes to diesel range gasoline and light alkanes: Comparison of catalytic properties of group 4, 5 and 6 metal hydrides supported on silica–alumina
Sebastien Norsic, Cherif Larabi, Marco Delgado, Anthony Garron, Aimery de Mallmann, Catherine Santini, Kai C. Szeto, Jean-Marie Basset and Mostafa Taoufik
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, 2, 215-219
DOI: 10.1039/C1CY00256B

Fischer–Tropsch reaction–diffusion in a cobalt catalyst particle: aspects of activity and selectivity for a variable chain growth probability
David Vervloet,  Freek Kapteijn,  John Nijenhuis and J. Ruud van Ommen
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, 2, 1221-1233
DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20060K

A highly selective Raney Fe@HZSM-5 Fischer–Tropsch synthesis catalyst for gasoline production: one-pot synthesis and unexpected effect of zeolites
Bo Sun,  Guobin Yu,  Jun Lin,  Ke Xu,  Yan Pei,  Shirun Yan,  Minghua Qiao,  Kangnian Fan,  Xiaoxin Zhang and Baoning Zong
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, 2, 1625-1629
DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20155K

Make sure that you’re signed up to the Catalysis Science & Technology e-alerts to keep up-to-date with the latest journal content.

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Acid functionalized carbon nanotubes provide superior catalyst support

Aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol in base-free aqueous solutions using acid-functionalized CNT as catalyst support

Aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol in base-free aqueous solutions using acid-functionalized CNT as catalyst support

In this HOT Article, Yang et al have investigated the use of acid-functionalized carbon nanotubes (CNT) as a catalyst support for benzyl alcohol oxidation in a base-free aqueous solution under mild conditions.

CNT supported Pt-based bimetallic nanoparticles were synthesized by finely alloying Pt with Ru or Sn by microwave assisted polyol reduction (MAPR).  The MAPR method was found to produce superior CNT supports compared to conventional methods of impregnation or deposition, yielding homogeneously dispersed particles with narrow size distribution and hence enhanced surface Pt exposure.  Characterization results revealed the mechanism of action of Ru and Sn promoters on the catalysts: Ru reacted with the surface of the Pt-hydride species to liberate free Pt active sites whereas Sn enhanced electronic transfer.

Read more for FREE at:

Microwave-assisted synthesis of PtRu/CNT and PtSn/CNT catalysts and their applications in the aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol in base-free aqueous solutions
Hong Chen, Qinghu Tang, Yuanting Chen, Yibo Yan, Chunmei Zhou, Zhen Guo, Xinli Jia and Yanhui Yang
Catal. Sci. Technol., 2012, Advance Article
DOI: 10.1039/C2CY20366A

Also of interest:

Promoted aerobic oxidation of benzyl alcohol on CNT supported platinum by iron oxide
Chunmei Zhou, Yuanting Chen, Zhen Guo, Xin Wang and Yanhui Yang
Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 7473-7475
DOI: 10.1039/C1CC12264A, Communication

Palladium-catalyzed aerobic oxidation of 1-phenylethanol with an ionic liquid additive
Yuanting Chen, Linlu Bai, Chunmei Zhou, Jong-Min Lee and Yanhui Yang
Chem. Commun., 2011, 47, 6452-6454
DOI: 10.1039/C1CC11643F, Communication

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