Synthesis,optimization and characterization of biochar based catalyst from sawdust for simultaneous esterification and transesterification

The development of a benign environmental catalyst for the generation of biodiesel is an area of importance to reduce the overall usage of fossil fuels. In the current work, biochar was produced by slow pyrolysis of Irul wood sawdust. The optimization for biochar generation was carried out for different reaction temperatures and heating durations. The biochar was used to prepare solid acid catalysts by sulfonation process. The characterization of biochar and the sulfonated catalyst were carried out using Elemental analysis, Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy(FTIR), Powder X-ray Diffraction(XRD), Thermo Gravimetric Analysis(TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy(SEM) and Surface area analyzer(BET). The characterization results showed that sulfonation of biochar resulted in biochar based solid acid catalyst containing various functional acidic groups like weak acidic\\OH groups, strong acidic\\COOH and SO3 H groups. The total acid density and sulfonic acid group density of catalyst were estimated and showed excellent acidic sites concentration which gives a good catalytic activity for biodiesel production through simultaneous esterification and transesterification. The enhanced catalytic activity is due to the high acid density of SO3 H groups and the reactant accessibility towards acidic sites as well as the strong affinity between the hydrophilic reactants and the neutral OH groups which are bonded with the polycyclic aromatic carbon rings. The performance of biochar catalyst for the production of biodiesel was evaluated by comparing the yield obtained. The FTIR and Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectroscopy(GC–MS) were also carried out for the analysis of biodiesel produced.

Carbon‐based metal‐free catalysts for electrochemical CO2 reduction: Activity, selectivity, and stability

Zero or negative emissions of carbon dioxide(CO2)is the need of the times,as inexorable rising and alarming levels of CO2 in the atmosphere lead to global warming and severe climate change.The electrochemical CO2 reduction(eCO2R)to value‐added fuels and chemicals by using renewable electricity provides a cleaner and more sustainable route with economic benefits,in which the key is to develop clean and economical electrocatalysts.Carbon‐based catalyst materials possess desirable properties such as high offset potential for H2 evolution and chemical stability at the negative applied potential.Although it is still challenging to achieve highly efficient carbon‐based catalysts,considerable efforts have been devoted to overcoming the low selectivity,activity,and stability.Here,we summarize and discuss the recent progress in carbon‐based metal‐free catalysts including carbon nanotubes,carbon nanofibers,carbon nanoribbons,graphene,carbon nitride,and diamonds with an emphasis on their activity,product selectivity,and stability.In addition,the key challenges and future potential approaches for efficient eCO2R to low carbon‐based fuels are highlighted.For a good understanding of the whole history of the development of eCO2R,the CO2 reduction reactions,principles,and techniques including the role of electrolytes,electrochemical cell design and evaluation,product selectivity,and structural composition are also discussed.The metal/metal oxides decorated with carbon‐based electrocatalysts are also summarized.We aim to provide insights for further development of carbon‐based metal‐free electrocatalysts for CO2 reduction from the perspective of both fundamental understanding and technological applications in the future.

Catalytic combustion of methane over nano ZrO_2-supported copper-based catalysts

The nano ZrO2-supported copper-based catalysts for methane combustion were investigated by means of N2 adsorption, TEM, XRD, H2-TPR techniques and the test of methane oxidation. Two kinds of ZrO2 were used as support, one （ZrO2-1） was obtained from the commercial ZrO2 and the other （ZrO2-2） was issued from the thermal decomposition of zirconium nitrate. It was found that the CuO/ZrO2-2 catalyst was more active than CuO/ZrO2-1. N2 adsorption, H2-TPR and XRD measurements showed that larger surface area, better reduction property, presence of tetragonal ZrO2 and higher dispersion of active component for CuO/ZrO2-2 than that of CuO/ZrO2-1. These factors could be the dominating reasons for its higher activity for methane combustion.

Effect of Ni Loading and Ce_(x)Zr_(1-x)O_(2) Promoter on Ni-Based SBA-15 Catalysts for Steam Reforming of Methane

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with Ni contents ranging from 5wt% to 20wt% as well as 10wt%Ni/10wt%CexZr1-xO2/SBA-15 （x=0, 0.5, 1） were prepared. The structures of the catalysts were characterized using XRD, TPR, TEM and BET techniques. The catalytic activities of the catalysts for steam reforming of methane were evaluated in a continuous flow microreactor. The results indicated that both the Ni/SBA-15 and the Ni/CexZr1-xO2/SBA-15 catalysts had good catalytic activities at at- mospheric pressure. The 10wt%Ni/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited excellent stability at 800 ℃ for time on stream of 740 h. After the reaction, carbon deposits were not formed on the surface of the catalyst. There existed a regular hexagonal mesoporous structure in the Ni/SBA-15 and the Ni/CexZr1-xO2/SBA-15 catalysts. The nickel species and the CexZr1-xO2 component were all confined in the SBA-15 mesopores. The CexZr1-xO2 could promote dispersion of the nickel species in the Ni/CexZr1-xO2/SBA-15 catalysts.

Effect of Relative Humidity on Catalytic Combustion of Toluene over Copper Based Catalysts with Different Supports

The copper based catalysts,CuO/γ-Al2O3,CuO/γ-Al2O3-cordierite(Cord) and CuO/Cord,were prepared by impregnation method.The catalytic activity of the catalysts was tested in absence and presence of water vapor,and the catalysts were characterized.Temperature program desorption (TPD) experiments of toluene and water on the catalysts were carried out.The influence of water vapor on the activity of the catalysts was discussed.Results showed that addition of the water vapor has a significant negative effect on the catalytic activity of the catalysts.The higher the concentration of the water vapor in feed steam was,the lower the catalytic activity of the copper based catalysts became,which could be mainly ascribed to the competition of water molecules with toluene molecules for adsorption on the catalyst surfaces.TPD experiments showed that the strength of the interaction between water molecules and three catalysts followed the order:CuO/γ-Al2O3>CuO/γ-Al2O3-Cord>CuO/Cord.As a consequence of that,the degree of degradation in the catalytic activity of these three catalysts by the water vapor followed the order:CuO/γ-Al2O3>CuO/γ-Al2O3-Cord>CuO/Cord.However,the negative effect of the water vapor was reversible.

Reaction Kinetics of Biodiesel Synthesis from Waste Oil Using a Carbon-based Solid Acid Catalyst

有基于碳的稳固的酸催化剂的同时的 transesterification 和酯化作用的动力学被学习。二稳固的酸催化剂被使碳化的蔬菜油沥青和石油沥青的 sulfonation 准备。这些催化剂根据元素的分析，酸味地点集中， Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (赌注) 表面区域和毛孔尺寸被描绘。有二催化剂的运动参数被决定，并且反应系统能被描述为假同类的催化反应。所有前面、反向的反应跟随第二顺序动力学。从运动方程的计算集中价值在对试验性的价值的好同意。

Preparation and characterization of ultrafine Fe-Cu-based catalysts for CO hydrogenation

The ultrafine particles of a new style Fe-Cu-based catalysts for CO hydrogenation were prepared by impregnating the organic sol of Fe（OH）3 and Cu（OH）2 onto the activated Al2O3, in which the organic sol of Fe（OH）3 and Cu（OH）2 were prepared in the microemulsion of dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid sodium（S）/n-butanol（A）/toluene（O）/water with V（A）/V（O） = 0.25 and W（A）/W（S） = 1.50. This catalyst was characterized by particle size analysis, XRD and TG. The results of particle size analysis showed that Fe（OH）3 particles with a mean size of 17.1 nm and Cu（OH）2 particles with an average size of 6.65 um were obtained. TG analysis and XRD patterns suggested that 673 K is the optimal calcination temperature. CO hydrogenation produced C＋OH with a high selectivity above 58 wt% by using the ultrafine particles as catalyst, and the total alcohol yield of 0.250 g·ml^-1 ·h^-1 was obtained when the contents of Al2O3 and K were 88.61 wt% and 1.60 wt%, respectively.

Effect of Manganese Incorporation Manner on an Iron-Based Catalyst for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

A systematic study was undertaken to investigate the effects of the manganese incorporation manner on the textural properties, bulk and surface phase compositions, reduction/carburization behaviors, and surface basicity of an iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis （FTS） catalyst. The catalyst samples were characterized by N2 physisorption, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （XPS）, H2 （or CO） temperature-programmed reduction （TPR）, CO2 temperature-programmed desorption （TPD）, and M5ssbauer spectroscopy. The FTS performance of the catalysts was studied in a slurry-phase continuously stirred tank reactor （CSTR）. The characterization results indicated that the manganese promoter incorporated by using the coprecipitation method could improve the dispersion of iron oxide, and decrease the size of the iron oxide crystallite. The manganese incorporated with the impregnation method is enriched on the catalyst＇s surface. The manganese promoter added with the impregnation method suppresses the reduction and carburization of the catalyst in H2, CO, and syngas because of the excessive enrichment of manganese on the catalyst surface. The catalyst added manganese using the coprecipitation method has the highest CO conversion （51.9%） and the lowest selectivity for heavy hydrocarbons （C12＋）.

Hydrogenation Conversion of Phenanthrene over Dispersed Mo-based Catalysts

With oil-soluble molybdenum compound and sublimed sulfur serving as raw materials, two dispersed Mo-based catalysts were prepared, characterized and then applied to the hydrogenation conversion of phenanthrene. The test results showed that under the conditions specified by this study, the catalyst prepared in a higher sulfiding atmosphere was more catalytically active due to its higher content of MoS2 and stronger intrinsic catalytic activity of MoS2 unit, which demonstrated that the sulfiding atmosphere for the preparation of catalysts not only could influence the yield of MoS2 but also the structure of MoS2.The analysis on the selectivity of octahydrophenanthrene isomers revealed that the catalyst prepared in a lower sulfiding atmosphere had a relatively higher catalytic selectivity to the hydrogenation of outer aromatic ring and the structure of catalysts could be modified under the specific reaction conditions. Moreover, the selectivity between the isomers of as-octahydrophenanthrene at different reaction time and temperature was analyzed and, based on the results, a hydrogenation mechanism over dispersed Mo-based catalysts was suggested, with monatomic hydrogen transfer and catalytic surface desorption of the half-addition intermediates functioning as the key points. In addition, it is concluded that the catalyst prepared in a lower sulfiding atmosphere was more capable of adsorption than the other one.

Sorbitol Hydrogenolysis to Glycols over Baisic Additive Promoted Ni-based Catalysts

一系列 Ni 与不同支持基于催化剂，基本添加剂被顺序的受精方法准备。催化剂被 XRD，赌注， H2-TPR 和 CO2-TPD 技术描绘。基本添加剂的介绍提高了 catalyats 的盐基度并且由在 Ni 2+ 和基本添加剂之间的强壮的相互作用支持了 Ni 粒子的 dispersities，这被发现。在 Ni 之中基于催化剂， 10%Ni/10%La2O3 /ZrO2 在山梨糖醇 hydrogenolysis 显示出优异表演。Ni 和 La2O3 的 synergistic 效果被证明在选择合成起一个必要作用例如并且 1,2-PG。处于最佳的反应条件，催化剂介绍了 100% 山梨糖醇变换和超过 48% 乙二醇(例如并且 1,2-PG ) 产量。polyols (山梨糖醇，木糖醇和甘油) 的动力学学习 hydrogenolysis 证明有更多的氢氧根数字的 polyols 举办更高的活动，产品分发是运动平衡的最后的结果，它能给我们关于怎么改变产品选择的某灵感。

Effect of Al_2O_3 Binder on the Precipitated Iron-Based Catalysts for Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis

A series of iron-based Fischer-Tropsch synthesis （FTS） catalysts incorporated with Al2O3 binder were prepared by the combination of co-precipitation and spray drying technology. The catalyst samples were characterized by using N2 physical adsorption, temperature-programmed reduction/desorption （TPR/TPD） and MSssbauer effect spectroscopy （MES） methods. The characterization results indicated that the BET surface area increases with increasing Al2O3 content and passes through a maximum at the Al2O3/Fe ratio of 10/100 （weight basis）. After the point, it decreases with further increase in Al2O3 content. The incorporation of Al2O3 binder was found to weaken the surface basicity and suppress the reduction and carburization of iron-based catalysts probably due to the strong K-Al2O3 and Fe-Al2O3 interactions. Furthermore, the H2 adsorption ability of the catalysts is enhanced with increasing Al2O3 content. The FTS performances of the catalysts were tested in a slurry-phase continuously stirred tank reactor （CSTR） under the reaction conditions of 260 ℃, 1.5 MPa, 1000 h^-1 and molar ratio of H2/CO 0.67 for 200 h. The results showed that the addition of small amounts of Al2O3 affects the activity of iron-based catalysts to a little extent. However, with further increase of Al2O3 content, the FTS activity and water gas shift reaction （WGS） activity are decreased severely. The addition of appropriate Al2O3 do not affect the product selectivity, but the catalysts incorporated with large amounts of Al2O3 have higher selectivity for light hydrocarbons and lower selectivity for heavy hydrocarbons.

The effect of copper valence on catalytic combustion of styrene over the copper based catalysts in the absence and presence of water vapor

Catalysts Cu Ox/γ-Al_2O_3-IH and Cu Ox/γ-Al_2O_3-IM were prepared, characterized, and tested for styrene combustion in the absence and presence of water vapor. The effect of copper valence of the catalysts on the catalytic activity for styrene combustion was discussed using the theory of hard soft acids and bases(HSAB).The results showed that the existence of water vapor in feed stream inhibited the catalytic activity for styrene combustion due to the competition adsorption of water molecule. HSAB theory confirmed that the local soft acidity of the catalyst Cu Ox/γ-Al_2O_3-IH was much stronger than that of the catalyst Cu Ox/γ-Al_2O_3-IM because of the higher content of soft acid Cu+on its surface, which increased the adsorption ability toward soft base of styrene and reduced the adsorption toward hard base of water vapor, and thus increased the catalytic activity for styrene combustion and weakened the negative influence of water vapor.

Effects of sol-gel method and lanthanum addition on catalytic performances of nickel-based catalysts for methane reforming with carbon dioxide

基于镍的催化剂被大音阶的第五音胶化方法准备并且为与 CO2 改过的 CH4 使用了。催化剂的特定的表面区域，催化活动，解吸附作用，和减小表演上的大音阶的第五音胶化方法的效果与赌注， TPR，和 TPD 被调查。与受精方法准备的催化剂相比，结果显示大音阶的第五音胶化方法准备的催化剂有更大的特定的表面区域，显示出更高催化的活动并且展出完美的解吸附作用和减小表演。另外，增加 La 的修正效果被学习，并且由 5wt .%Ni-0.75wt.%La 组成的 0.75NLBT 催化剂是最佳的，这被发现。

Effect of Cu promoter on Ni-based SBA-15 catalysts for partial oxidation of methane to syngas

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with 5wt% to 15wt% Ni content as well as a series of 12.5%Ni/Cu/SBA-15 catalysts with 1% to 10% copper content were prepared by the impregnation method. The catalytic performance for partial oxidation of methane was investigated in a continuous flow microreactor under atmospheric pressure. The textural and chemical properties of the catalysts were characterized by XRD, TEM, BET and Hz-TPR techniques. The results indicated that the catalysts modified with Cu promoter showed better performance than those without modification. For the 12.5%Ni/2.5%/Cu/SBA-15 catalyst, at 850 ℃ the conversion of CH4 reached 97.9% and the selectivity of CO and H2 reached 98.0% and 96.0%, respectively. In XRD patterns of the Ni/Cu/SBA-15 catalyst with 7.5 to 10% Cu contents there were CuO characteristic peaks beside NiO characteristic peaks. The mesoporous structure of SBA-15 was retained in all of the catalysts. TPR analysis of the catalysts revealed that a strong interaction between Ni, Cu promoter and SBA-15 support may be existed. This interaction enhanced significantly the redox properties of the catalysts resulting in the higher catalytic activity.

Studies on Catalysis in Partial Oxidation of Methane to Syngas(Ⅰ)──Performance and Characterization of Ni-based Catalysts

Highly active and selective Ni-based catalysts for partial oxidation of methane (POM) to syngas (CO/H,) have been studied and developed. Spectroscopic characterization by XRD, XPS, EPR, etc. demonstrated that under the POM reaction conditions, the Ni-components of the catalysts investigated were reduced and enriched on the surface to form metallic Ni0-phase. A comparative study of the first series of transition-metals showed that only Ni and Co have a high POM activity and selectivity, whereas the others (including Mn, Fe, Cu, etc. ) give mainly complete combustion products, Co, and H2O. The results favor the following viewpoints: the PoM activity is related with the rapidly changeable valence transitionmetal sites, M0/M2+ (e. g. Ni0/Ni2+ ), on the surface of the functioning catalysts;the transition-metal sites in zero-valence state seem to be responsible for the activation and dehydrogenation of methane by homolytic splitting of its C-H bonds on these sites. and the nature of rapidly changeable valence of the active sties is requisite for activation and rapid conversion of dioxygen.

Effect of O_2 and H_2O on the tri-reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas over Ni-based SBA-15 catalysts

A series of Ni/SBA-15 catalysts with Ni contents from 7.5 wt% to 15 wt% were prepared by impregnation method.The effect of O2 and H2O on the combined reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas was investigated in a continuous flow fixed-bed micro-reactor.The stability of the catalyst was tested at 800 ？C.The results indicated that 10wt%Ni/SBA-15 catalyst exhibited the highest catalytic activities for the combined reforming of the simulated biogas to syngas.Under the reaction conditions of the feed gas molar ratios CH4/CO2/O2/H2O = 2/1/0.6/0.6,GHSV = 24000 ml·gcat^-1·h^-1 and the reaction temperature T = 800 ℃,the conversions of CH4 and CO2 were 92.8% and 76.3%,respectively,and the yields of CO and H2 were 99.0% and 82.0%,respectively.The catalytic activities of the catalyst did not decrease obviously after 100 h reaction time on stream.

Effect of preparation methods of aluminum emulsions on catalytic performance of copper-based catalysts for methanol synthesis from syngas

Various Cu/ZnO/Al2O3 catalysts have been synthesized by different aluminum emulsions as aluminum sources and their pertormances tor methanol synthesis from syngas have been investigated. The influences of preparation methods of aluminum emulsions on physicochemical and catalytic properties of catalysts were studied by XRD, SEM, XPS,N2 adsorption-desorption techniques and methanol synthesis from syngas. The preparation methods of aluminum emulsions were found to influence the catalytic activity, CuO crystallite size, surface area and Cu0 surface area and reduction process. The results show that the catalyst CN using the aluminum source prepared by addition the ammonia into the aluminum nitrate （NP） exhibited the best catalytic performance for methanol synthesis from syngas.

Effect of Addition Sequence during Neutralization and Precipitation on Iron-based Catalysts for High Temperature Shift Reaction

The preparation of the iron-based catalysts promoted by cobalt with a small amount of copper and aluminum for the high temperature shift reaction （HTS） with different sequences of adding catalyst raw materials during neutralization and precipitation was investigated. XRD, BET and particle size distribution （PSD） were used to characterize the prepared catalysts. It was found that the catalyst crystals were all γ-Fe2O3, and the intermediate of the catalyst after aging was Fe3O4. The crystallographic form of the catalyst and its intermediate was not affected by the addition sequence in the neutralization and precipitation process. The results showed that the specific surface area and the particle size of the catalysts depended on the addition sequence to the mother liquor. Cobalt with a small amount of copper and aluminum could increase the specific surface area and decrease the particle size of catalysts.

Simultaneous operation of dibenzothiophene hydrodesulfurization and methanol reforming reactions over Pd promoted alumina based catalysts

In the current study simultaneous reactions of hydrodesulfurization(HDS) of dibenzothiophene(DBT) and reforming of methanol in a micro-autoclave reactor were studied over bi-metallic(Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Ni-Mo/Al2O3) and tri-metallic(Pd-Co-Mo/Al2O3 and Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3) catalyst systems which were prepared by incipient impregnation method.In situ hydrogen utilization and low Pd loadings were the major targets of this study.For comparison purpose,catalytic activity was separately determined for both the methanol reforming and HDS of DBT reactions as well.Ni based catalysts were confirmed with better activity than Co ones for both the reactions with Pd promoted ones ranking at the top i.e.Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 > Ni-Mo/Al2O3 > Pd-Co-Mo/Al2O3 > Co-Mo/Al2O3 where Pd-Ni-Mo/Al2O3 showed 91% DBT conversion at 380 ℃ and 12 h reaction time.Some of the selected organic additives on catalytic activity were tested for their effect toward HDS reaction which was unique with close relation to their chemical nature.Reaction products were quantitatively and qualitatively analyzed via HPLC and GC-MS techniques respectively which helped in elucidating reaction mechanism.

New technique of comprehensive utilization of spent Al_2O_3-based catalyst

A new technology was developed to recover multiple valuable elements from the spent Al2O3-based catalyst by X-ray phase analysis and exploratory experiments. The experimental results show that in the condition of roasting temperature of 750℃ and roasting time of 30 min, molar ratio of Na2O to Al2O3 of 1.2, the leaching rates of alumina, vanadium and molybdenum in the spent catalyst are 97.2%, 95.8% and 98.9%, respectively. Vanadium and molybdenum in sodium aluminate solution can be recovered by precipitators A and B, and the precipitation rates of vanadium and molybdenum are 94.8% and 92.6%. Al（OH）3 was prepared from sodium aluminate solution in the carbonation decomposition process, and the purity of Al2O3 is 99.9% after calcination, the recovery of alumina reaches 90.6% in the whole process; the Ni-Co concentrate was leached by sulfuric acid, a nickel recovery of 98.2% and cobalt recovery over 98.5% can be obtained under the experimental condition of 30% H2SO4, 80℃, reaction time 4 h, mass ratio of liquid to solid 8, stirring rate 800r/min.