Effects of zinc on Fe-based catalysts during the synthesis of light olefins from the Fischer-Tropsch process

Fe‐based catalysts for the production of light olefins via the Fischer‐Tropsch synthesis were modi‐fied by adding a Zn promoter using both microwave‐hydrothermal and impregnation methods. The physicochemical properties of the resulting catalysts were determined by scanning electron mi‐croscopy, the Brunauer‐Emmett‐Teller method, X‐ray diffraction, H2 temperature‐programed re‐duction and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results demonstrate that the addition of a Zn promoter improves both the light olefin selectivity over the catalyst and the catalyst stability. The catalysts prepared via the impregnation method, which contain greater quantities of surface ZnO, exhibit severe carbon deposition following activity trials. In contrast, those materials synthesized using the microwave‐hydrothermal approach show improved dispersion of Zn and Fe phases and decreased carbon deposition, and so exhibit better CO conversion and stability.

A facile solvent-free synthesis strategy for Co-imbedded zeolite-based Fischer-Tropsch catalysts for direct gasoline production

A series of Co-imbedded zeolite-based catalysts were synthesized following a facile solvent-free grinding route.The catalytic performance for direct syngas conversion to gasoline range hydrocarbons was compared with their counterpart Co-impregnated zeolite-based catalysts.Successful transformation of solid raw materials to targeted zeolite was confirmed by XRD,SEM,STEM,and N2 physisorption analysis.An in-depth study of acidic strength and acidic site distribution was conducted by NH3-TPD and Py-IR spectroscopy.Acidic strength showed a pivotal role in defining product range.Co@S1,with the weakest acidic strength of silicalite-1 among three types of zeolites,evaded over-cracking of product and exhibited the highest gasoline and isoparaffin selectivity(≈70%and 30.7%,respectively).Moreover,the solvent-free raw material grinding route for zeolite synthesis accompanies several advantages like the elimination of production of wastewater,high product yield within confined crystallization space,and elimination of safety concerns regarding high pressure due to the absence of the solvent.Facileness and easiness of the solvent-free synthesis route together with promising catalytic performance strongly support its application on the industrial scale.

Effect of alkali metals on the performance of CoCu/TiO_2 catalysts for CO_2 hydrogenation to long-chain hydrocarbons

CoCu/TiO_2 catalysts promoted using alkali metals（Li, Na, K, Rb, and Cs） were prepared by the homogeneous deposition-precipitation method followed by the incipient wetness impregnation method. The influences of the alkali metals on the physicochemical properties of the CoCu/TiO_2 catalysts and the catalytic performance for CO_2 hydrogenation to long-chain hydrocarbons（C_（5＋））were investigated in this work. According to the characterization of the catalysts based on X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, CO_2 temperature-programmed desorption（TPD）, and H_2-TPD, the introduction of alkali metals could increase the CO_2 adsorption and decrease the H_2 chemisorption, which could suppress the formation of CH_4, enhance the production of C_（5＋）, and decrease the hydrogenation activity. Among all the promoters, the Na-modified CoCu/TiO_2 catalyst provided the maximum C_（5＋） yield of 5.4%, with a CO_2 conversion of 18.4% and C_（5＋） selectivity of42.1%, because it showed the strongest basicity and a slight decrease in the amount of H_2 desorption;it also exhibited excellent catalytic stability of more than 200 h.

石油炼厂加工纤维素/木质纤维素生物质原料的前景

生物质热解与生物油改质、生物质气化与合成气费-托转化工艺是正在研究开发的第二代生物燃料技术,前者利用快速热解工艺对生物质进行热解或热加氢改质生成热解油;后者用生物质直接合成或先转化为生物油后再生成合成气,合成气经改质和转化生产费-托合成烃。许多石油公司都在以纤维素/木质纤维素为原料,研究开发在石油炼厂内对生物质原料进行后续加工和应用的相关技术。在石油炼厂中引入生物质原料,其挑战是要找到源自非食用生物质或生物质废弃物的原料,而且这些原料应易于运输并易于在炼厂中进行处理,同时应尽可能使用现有的工艺和装置。虽然石油炼厂加工生物质原料尚存在一些问题,但近来开发势头十分强劲。从长远角度来看,任何能为炼厂提供原料,生命周期分析证明能减少CO2排放,并在经济上可行的技术均会在生物燃料开发竞争中成为赢家。

Effect of the support on cobalt carbide catalysts for sustainable production of olefins from syngas

Co2C‐based catalysts with SiO2,γ‐Al2O3,and carbon nanotubes(CNTs)as support materials were prepared and evaluated for the Fischer‐Tropsch to olefin(FTO)reaction.The combination of catalytic performance and structure characterization indicates that the cobalt‐support interaction has a great influence on the Co2C morphology and catalytic performance.The CNT support facilitates the formation of a CoMn composite oxide during calcination,and Co2C nanoprisms were observed in the spent catalysts,resulting in a product distribution that greatly deviates from the classical Anderson‐Schulz‐Flory(ASF)distribution,where only 2.4 C%methane was generated.The Co3O4 phase for SiO2‐andγ‐Al2O3‐supported catalysts was observed in the calcined sample.After reduction,CoO,MnO,and low‐valence CoMn composite oxide were generated in theγ‐Al2O3‐supported sample,and both Co2C nanospheres and nanoprisms were identified in the corresponding spent catalyst.However,only separated phases of CoO and MnO were found in the reduced sample supported by SiO2,and Co2C nanospheres were detected in the spent catalyst without the evidence of any Co2C nanoprisms.The Co2C nanospheres led to a relatively high methane selectivity of 5.8 C%and 12.0 C%of theγ‐Al2O3‐and SiO2‐supported catalysts,respectively.These results suggest that a relatively weak cobalt‐support interaction is necessary for the formation of the CoMn composite oxide during calcination,which benefits the formation of Co2C nanoprisms with promising catalytic performance for the sustainable production of olefins via syngas.

Full life cycle characterization strategies for spatiotemporal evolution of heterogeneous catalysts

The sustainable development of the chemical industry requires novel and efficient catalysts and catalytic processes,especially eco-friendly and intrinsically safe processes.The idea is to improve the selectivity,activity,and stability of the catalyst in an appropriate reactor.Therefore,it is of great academic and industrial significance to conduct in-situ characterization of a working catalyst while testing its catalytic performance.This is beneficial for a comprehensive study on the dynamic evolution of the catalyst structure under real conditions,deepening the understanding of the structure-performance relationship of catalysts,and providing a scientific basis for the development of future generation catalytic technology.Thus far,it is still a great challenge to realize full life cycle characterization of heterogeneous catalysts from catalyst formation and function to deactivation under real world conditions.In this mini review,we summarize the characterization strategies for heterogeneous catalysts,using zeolite,metal,and metal oxide catalysts as typical examples.The research strategies for the approximation of industrial conditions,multi-scale in-situ characterization devices,and computational modeling of realistic conditions should provide insight for the research and development of industrial catalysis.