Decomposition of Urea in the SCR Process: Combination of DFT Calculations and Experimental Results on the Catalytic Hydrolysis of Isocyanic Acid on TiO2 and Al2O3

In selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems for diesel vehicles the injected urea solution decomposes to ammonia and isocyanic acid (HNCO), which reacts with water to another ammonia molecule and carbon dioxide over the SCR catalyst or a special urea decomposition catalyst. The second reaction step, i.e. the catalytic hydrolysis of HNCO was studied on the anatase TiO2(101) surface and Al2O3(100) surface with ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations using a cluster model as well as with in situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectra (DRIFTS) investigations and kinetic experiments. The following mechanistic pathway has been identified to be most feasible: HNCO dissociatively adsorbs on the metal oxide surface as isocyanates, which are attacked by water, thereby forming carbamic acid at the surface. In a further step this intermediate is transformed to a carbamate complex, which leads to CO2 desorption and consequently NH3 formation. The comparison between the sum of the theoretical vibrational spectra of the reaction intermediates with the in situ DRIFT spectra also strongly supports the accuracy of the second reaction pathway. This mechanism holds also for the HNCO hydrolysis over γ-Al2O3 and the reactivity compared to TiO2 was found to be consistent with the heights of the barriers in the energy diagrams. Based on these promising preliminary results a computational screening has been started in order to predict the most active metal oxides and surfaces for this reactio

Nickel Deposition on ?-Al2O3: Modelling Metal Particle Behaviour at the Support

Recently, surface modifications on a commercial Ni/Al2O3 catalyst during the production of methane from synthesis gas were investigated by quasi in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The effect of the synthesis gas on the surface properties of the catalyst and on its activity under methanation conditions was studied on an atomic level. The conclusion was that the stability of Ni particles on the ?-Al2O3 support can be influencedby cluster growth phenomena, which influence both size and distribution of the metal particles. In this study, Ni deposition and cluster growth on model catalyst samples (10 nm thick, polycrystalline ?-Al2O3 on Si(100)) was investigated by XPS. The molecular structure of the catalyst was investigated using Density Functional Theory calculations (StoBe) with cluster model and non-local functional (RPBE) approach. Al15O40H35 clusterswere selected to represent the ?-Al2O3 (100) surface. Ni clusters of different size were cut from a Ni(100) surface and deposited on the Al15O40H35 cluster in order to validate the deposition model determined by XPS

Ethical problems of palliative care in the period of its evolutionary transformation

Our long-time experience in palliative care allowed us to notice changes in ethics of palliative medicine. In the handbook of palliative medicine, its authors R.G.Twycross and D.Frampton in 1995 did formulate the following ethical postulate: respect for life, acceptance of death of a patient as an unavoidable event, respect for a patient as a person, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice. In addition, they stressed prohibition of euthanasia as a rule. Nine years later, however, in the Oxford handbook of palliative care, its authors: M.S.Watson, C.T.Lukas, M.A.Hoy and J.N.Back described their ethical basis, which were slightly different but quite similar to those of T.L.Beauchamp and J.F.Childers: autonomy of a patient, beneficence, nonmaleficence, justice and the trust. Their set of principles may induce controversy because of unlimited patient's autonomy and absence of physician's autonomy. Further, it may permit euthanasia, which is excluded by palliative medicine

Modelling Catalyst Surfaces Using DFT Cluster Calculations

We review our recent theoretical DFT cluster studies of a variety of industrially relevant catalysts such as TiO2, γ-Al2O3, V2O5-WO3-TiO2 and Ni/Al2O3. Aspects of the metal oxide surface structure and the stability and structure of metal clusters on the support are discussed as well as the reactivity of surfaces, including their behaviour upon poisoning. It is exemplarily demonstrated how such theoretical considerations can be combined with DRIFT and XPS results from experimental studies

The comparison of multipotential for differentiation of progenitor mesenchymal-like stem cells obtained from livers of young and old rats.

The presence of stem cells differentiating to hepatocytes and cholangiocytes has been previously reported in livers of young rats. Here, we have isolated, cultured, and characterized mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from livers of young and old rats and tested their multipotential for differentiation. The mesenchymal stem cells in liver sections were identified by the presence of markers, respectively for primary stem cells Thy-1 and CD34, for differentiation to early cholangiocytes GST and CK19, and for differentiation to hepatocytes GSTalpha and CK18. Ki67 was detected as the cell proliferation marker. Cells isolated from livers of either age group were tested in a culture for their viability following storage and were characterized for the presence of most of the markers detected in cells in situ. The results revealed age-dependent changes in the number of recovered primary MSCs. In both age groups we have observed cells changing under differentiating conditions to liver cell lineages, such as cholangiocytes and hepatocytes, as well as to non-liver cells such as adipocytes, astrocytes, neuroblasts, and osteoblasts. Our data revealed that from the livers of rats 20 months and older the primary MSCs could be isolated and expanded; however, they were significantly fewer, even though their differentiation multipotential was preserved. The mechanism involved in the differentiation of liver MSCs seemed to depend on a constellation of signals in Notch signalling pathways. Thus, our results support the idea of potential use of liver as a source of MSCs, not only for liver reconstruction but also for cell therapy in general

Experimental and theoretical studies of sonically prepared Cu-Y, Cu-USY and Cu-ZSM-5 catalysts for SCR deNO(x)

The objective of our study was to prepare Y-, USY- and ZSM-5-based catalysts by hydrothermal synthesis, followed by copper active-phase deposition by either conventional ion-exchange or ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, Raman, UV-Vis, monitoring ammonia and nitrogen oxide sorption by FT-IR and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS). XRD data confirmed the purity and structure of the Y/USY or ZSM-5 zeolites. The nitrogen and ammonia sorption results indicated that the materials were highly porous and acidic. The metallic active phase was found in the form of cations in ion-exchanged zeolites and in the form of nanoparticle metal oxides in sonochemically prepared catalysts. The latter showed full activity and high stability in the SCR deNO(x) reaction. The faujasite-based catalysts were fully active at 200-400 degrees C, whereas the ZSM-5-based catalysts reached 100% activity at 400-500 degrees C. Our in situ DRIFTS experiments revealed that Cu-O(NO) and Cu-NH3 were intermediates, also indicating the role of Bronsted sites in the formation of NH4NO3. Furthermore, the results from our experimental in situ spectroscopic studies were compared with DFT models. Overall, our findings suggest two possible mechanisms for the deNO(x) reaction, depending on the method of catalyst preparation (i.e., conventional ion-exchange vs. ultrasonic irradiation).Web of Science117art. no. 82

Can Energetic Terahertz Pulses Initiate Surface Catalytic Reactions on the Picosecond Time Scale?

In preparation for picosecond pump-probe experiments at the SwissFELX-ray laser facility, the feasibility of collectively initiating surface chemical reactions using energetic pulses of terahertz radiation is being tested

Nano-design of Zeolites Biomass Wastes Valorization: Dehydration of Lactic Acid into Acrylic Acid

The valorization of waste from biomass currently arouses great interest. In the present study we concentrate on the design of innovative BEA zeolite catalysts with applied metal nanoparticles - copper, vanadium and manganese for the dehydration of lactic acid to acrylic acid. The ab initio method based on density functional theory (DFT) was used to calculate the electron structure of the analyzed molecules. The non-local generalized gradient corrected functionals GGA-RPBE was used to in order to account for electron exchange and correlation. The cluster model was represented by a hierarchical zeolite M2Al2Si12O40H22 (M = Cu, V, Mn). The stabilization of the M-Ob-M dimer complex in the hierarchical structure of BEA, mechanism of adsorption of lactic acid on BEA zeolite with applied metal dimers and formation of acrylic acid on these zeolites were investigated. The examined metals form stable dimers interconnected by a bridge oxygen (Ob). Adsorption of lactic acid takes place in the vicinity of a dimer of M-Ob-M. The dehydration of lactic acid to acrylic acid in all cases consists in the separation of the hydroxyl group and creating a connection with a metal center of dimer and disconnection of a single hydrogen atom from the methyl group and its interaction with bridge oxygen of dimer.Waloryzacja odpadów z biomasy cieszy się obecnie dużym zainteresowaniem. W niniejszych badaniach koncentrujemy się na projektowaniu innowacyjnych katalizatorów zeolitowych BEA z nanocząstkami metali - miedzi, wanadu i manganu w celu odwodnienia kwasu mlekowego do kwasu akrylowego. Metoda ab initio oparta na teorii funkcjonalności gęstości (DFT) została wykorzystana, przy użyciu nielokalnego funkcjonału korelacyjno-wymiennego GGA-RPBE, do obliczenia struktury elektronowej analizowanych cząsteczek. Hierarchiczny zeolite BEA był reprezentowany przez model klasterowy M2Al2Si12O40H22 (M = Cu, V, Mn). Badano stabilizację dimeru M-Ob-M w hierarchicznej strukturze BEA, mechanizm adsorpcji kwasu mlekowego na zeolicie BEA z zastosowanymi dimerami metali i tworzenie kwasu akrylowego na tych zeolitach. Badane metale tworzą stabilne dimery połączone wzajemnie tlenem mostkowym (Ob). Adsorpcja kwasu mlekowego odbywa się w pobliżu dimeru M-Ob-M. Odwodnienie kwasu mlekowego do kwasu akrylowego we wszystkich przypadkach polega na oddzieleniu grupy hydroksylowej i utworzeniu połączenia z jednym z metali dimeru i odłączeniem pojedynczego atomu wodoru od grupy metylowej kwasu mlekowego i jego oddziaływaniem z tlenem mostkowym dimeru

Modelling of porous metal-organic framework (MOF) materials used in catalysis

This paper presents a review of modern modelling of porous materials such as metal-organic frameworks used in catalysis. The authors’ own research approach using the nano-design of metal-organic frameworks is included in this review