Adsorption heat pump optimization by experimental design and response surface methodology

The performance of commercial zeolites, with and without binder in its formulation (SYLOBEAD® MS C 548: 13X with binder; Köstrolith® 13XBFK and NaYBFK: 13X and NaY without binder, respectively), for water adsorption heating applications was compared in this work. Accounting for a Box-Behnken design with four factors (time of adsorption and desorption, tADS+DES; condensation temperature, Tcond; heat source temperature, THTF,hot; bed thickness, δ) and three levels, a set of 25 simulations per adsorbent was accomplished, and the performance of the adsorption units was evaluated through the coefficient of performance (COP) and the specific heating power (SHP). The results suggested that the presence of the binder in the formulation of 13X does not penalize the zeolite performance significantly, and that NaYBFK is the most promising material. For the latter solid, statistical outcomes were analyzed and insights about their usefulness to optimize the design and operation of adsorption heat pumps are provided. Pareto charts displaying the impact ranking of the factors upon COP and SHP are discussed, and simple equations are provided for the expeditious estimation of both indicators. Such models were utilized to map system performance and to select optimal geometric/operating parameters that meet specific performance requirements.publishe

Intercalation of (η5-Pentamethylcyclopentadienyl)trioxomolybdenum(VI) in a Layered Double Hydroxide

A Zn,Al layered double hydroxide (LDH) with [Cp*MoO3]– (Cp* = η5‐C5Me5) anions in the interlayer has been prepared by a direct coprecipitation method. The intercalated LDH and the mixed metal oxide (MMO) obtained after its calcination were characterized by elemental and thermogravimetric analyses, powder X‐ray diffraction (PXRD), FT‐IR and FT‐Raman spectroscopy, 13C and 27Al MAS NMR, and scanning electron microscopy. The observed basal spacing of 17.1 Å for the LDH Zn,Al‐Cp*MoO3 (corresponding to a gallery height of 12.3 Å) suggests that the guest anions self‐assemble into dimers via offset face‐to‐face Cp*···Cp* interactions, which facilitates hydrogen‐bonding interactions between the oxido ligands of the complexes and the layer hydroxyl groups, while positioning the hydrophobic aromatic rings towards the center of the galleries. Calcination of Zn,Al‐Cp*MoO3 at 550 °C under air gave an MMO comprising well‐dispersed ZnO, α‐ZnMoO4 and ZnAl2O4 (spinel) oxides in a molar of ca. 1.4:1.6:1. The MMO exhibited catalytic activity for the epoxidation of cis‐cyclooctene with tert‐butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) as terminal oxidant, with quantitative yield of the epoxide being achieved within 24 h at 85 °C.publishe

Efficient isomerization of α-pinene oxide to campholenic aldehyde promoted by a mixed-ring analogue of molybdenocene

The MoIV complex [(eta5-indenyl)(eta5-cyclopentadienyl)Mo(MeCN)2](BF4)2 (1) has been used to promote two acid-catalyzed epoxide ring-opening reactions under ambient conditions. The alcoholysis of styrene oxide in neat ethanol gave 2-ethoxy-2-phenylethanol in quantitative yield within 10 min. The use of an ionic liquid (IL) as cosolvent benefitted catalyst solubility and recycling while not impairing catalytic performance. Complex 1 in 1,2-dichloroethane was effective for the isomerization of alpha-pinene oxide to campholenic aldehyde (CPA), leading to 87% yield at 1 h reaction. The same yield could be achieved within 1 min by using the IL [Choline][NTf2] as solvent. CPA yields at 1 min reached near-quantitative values (98%) upon recycling of the catalyst/IL mixture, demonstrating an unparalleled combination of activity, selectivity and recyclability for this commercially important reaction. Considering the catalytic features of the 1/IL system, a CPA process flow diagram is proposed and compared to patented technology.publishe

Micro/mesoporous LTL derived materials for catalytic transfer hydrogenation and acid reactions of bio-based levulinic acid and furanics

The biomass-derived platform chemicals furfural and 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural (HMF) may be converted to α-angelica lactone (AnL) and levulinic acid (LA). Presently, LA (synthesized from carbohydrates) has several multinational market players. Attractive biobased oxygenated fuel additives, solvents, etc., may be produced from AnL and LA via acid and reduction chemistry, namely alkyl levulinates and γ-valerolactone (GVL). In this work, hierarchical hafnium-containing multifunctional Linde type L (LTL) related zeotypes were prepared via top-down strategies, for the chemical valorization of LA, AnL and HMF via integrated catalytic transfer hydrogenation (CTH) and acid reactions in alcohol medium. This is the first report of CTH applications (in general) of LTL related materials. The influence of the post-synthesis treatments/conditions (desilication, dealumination, solid-state impregnation of Hf or Zr) on the material properties and catalytic performances was studied. AnL and LA were converted to 2-butyl levulinate (2BL) and GVL in high total yields of up to ca. 100%, at 200°C, and GVL/2BL molar ratios up to 10. HMF conversion gave mainly the furanic ethers 5-(sec-butoxymethyl)furfural and 2,5-bis(sec-butoxymethyl)furan (up to 63% total yield, in 2-butanol at 200°C/24 h). Mechanistic, reaction kinetics and material characterization studies indicated that the catalytic results depend on a complex interplay of different factors (material properties, type of substrate). The recovered-reused solids performed steadily.publishe

High-yield synthesis and catalytic response of chainlike hybrid materials of the [(MoO3)m(2,2′-bipyridine)n] family

The one-dimensional organic–inorganic hybrid material [MoO3(2,2'-bipy)] (1) (2,2'-bipy = 2,2'-bipyridine) has been used as a starting material to prepare the bipy-deficient phases [Mo2O6(2,2'-bipy)] (2) and [Mo3O9(2,2'-bipy)2] (3) in excellent yields. The hybrid 2 was obtained by a solid-state thermal treatment of 1 (300 ºC, 10 min) while 3 was obtained by a hydrothermal treatment of 1 (160 ºC, 6 d). A study was performed to compare the catalytic properties of 1–3 in the epoxidation of cis-cyclooctene at 55 ºC with tert-butylhydroperoxide (TBHP) or aqueous H2O2 as oxidant. In all cases Cy was converted to cyclooctene oxide (CyO) with 100% selectivity, and Cy conversions increased in the order 1 < 3 < 2, which parallels an increase in the Mo/2,20-bipy molar ratio of the hybrid (1 < 1.5 < 2). With compound 2, CyO yields at 24 h were 96% for TBHP (cosolvent a,a,a-trifluorotoluene) and 53% for H2O2 (cosolvent CH3CN). The catalytic reactions occurred in homogeneous phase with active species formed in situ from 1–3. All three hybrids react with aqueous H2O2 to give the catalytically active oxodiperoxo complex [MoO(O2)2(2,2'-bipy)]. The 2 : 1 hybrid 2 was further examined for the epoxidation of other cyclic and linear non-functionalised olefins with TBHP, namely cyclododecene, 1-octene and trans-2-octene, and the biomass-derived olefins DL-limonene, a-pinene and methyl oleate.publishe

Olefin oligomerisation over nanocrystalline MFI-based micro/mesoporous zeotypes synthesised via bottom-up approaches

The oligomerisation of 1-butene was studied under high-pressure continuous-flow conditions (200–250 °C, 30–40 bar), in the presence of micro/mesoporous zeotypes based on the MFI topology, which were prepared via different non-destructive bottom-up strategies: crystallization of silanized protozeolitic units; co-templating with a dual function (polymeric) template; and using a sole structure directing agent (non-surfactant and non-polymeric) to generate mesoporosity. The synthesis method influenced the material properties and consequently the catalytic performance. In targeting hydrocarbons with boiling point ranges characteristics of diesel, the zeotypes benefited from regular morphology, reduced crystallite size, mesoporosity and enhanced molar ratio of Lewis (L) to Brønsted (B) acid sites (L/B). In general, the zeotypes outperformed commercial zeolite ZSM-5. The best-performing zeotype was prepared according to the Serrano strategy based on the crystallization of silanized zeolitic seeds, and led to 97% conversion and an average space-time yield of liquid products of 1077 mg gcat−1 h−1, at 250 °C, 40 bar. The zeotypes seemed more stable than the commercial zeolite, based on molecular level characterization studies of the used/regenerated catalysts, with some differences in catalytic activity.publishe

Synthesis, Characterization and Catalytic application of Water Stable η3-Allyl Dicarbonyl Complexes of Molybdenum(II)

Trabalho apresentado em EuropaCat X – Catalysis across disciplines, 28 Aug - 02 Sep 2011, Glasgow, ScotlandN/

Niobium pentoxide nanomaterials with distorted structures as efficient acid catalysts

Niobium pentoxides are promising acid catalysts for the conversion of biomass into fuels and chemicals. Developing new synthesis routes is essential for designing niobium pentoxide catalysts with improved activity for specific practical processes. Here we show a synthesis approach in acetophenone, which produces nanostructured niobium pentoxides with varying structure and acidity that act as efficient acid catalysts. The oxides have orthorhombic structures with different extents of distortions and coordinatively unsaturated metal atoms. A strong dependence is observed between the type and strength of the acid sites and specific structural motifs. Ultrasmall niobium pentoxide nanoparticles, which have strong Brønsted acidity, as well as Lewis acidity, give product yields of 96% (3 h, 140 °C, 100% conversion), 85% (3 h, 140 °C, 86% conversion), and 100% (3 h, 110 °C, 100% conversion) in the reactions of furfuryl alcohol, 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural, and α-angelica lactone with ethanol, respectively.Peer Reviewe