Nickel Catalysts on Carbon-Mineral Sapropel-Based Supports for Liquid-Phase Hydrogenation of Nitrobenzene

Nickel catalysts with carbon-mineral supports derived from sapropel were synthesized; the effect exerted by the nature of the support (type of the initial sapropel) and active component precursor on the activity of the catalysts in the model reaction of liquid-phase nitrobenzene hydrogenation was studied. The catalysts, synthesized using the support with a smaller fraction of carbon, were more active irrespective of the precursor nature. The highest activity was observed for the catalysts synthesized from nickel nitrate and formate; nitrobenzene conversion was 65% and 51%, respectively, after 1 h of reaction. The catalysts retained high activity after six reaction cycles at 100% aniline selectivity. The presence of sulfur in the nickel precursor deteriorated the catalytic activity (convection less than 3%) due to formation of the sulfide phase

Synthesis of CuAl-LDHs by Co-Precipitation and Mechanochemical Methods and Selective Hydrogenation Catalysts Based on Them

The paper presents the results of the synthesis and study of CuAl layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as well as their application as catalysts for the selective hydrogenation of crotonaldehyde. Phase-homogeneous LDHs were obtained by co-precipitation and mechanochemical methods, and critical parameters ensuring the formation of the target product were identified. In the case of coprecipitation, the formation of LDH is most affected by the pH of the reaction medium and the CO32−/Al3+ ratio. The optimal CO32−/Al3+ ratio is ca. 0.5–0.8 and pH 9.5–10.0. When mechanochemical synthesis is used, at 500 m·s−2 and 60 min, it is possible to obtain a single-phase CuAl LDH, whereas at higher energies, LDH is destroyed. The mechanochemical method makes it possible not only to reduce the synthesis time and the amount of alkaline wash water but also to obtain more dispersed copper particles with a higher hydrogenating activity. The conversion of 2-butenal (T = 80 °C, P = 0.5 MPa, 180 min, ethanol) for this sample was 99.9%, in contrast to 50.5% for the catalyst obtained by co-precipitation. It is important that, regardless of the conversion, both catalysts showed high selectivity (S = 90–95%) for the double bond hydrogenation

Agronomic and Economic Aspects of Biodiesel Production from Oilseeds: A Case Study in Russia, Middle Volga Region

Emissions from fossil fuels are expected to increase in accordance with the global economy, which causes the development of alternative non-hydrocarbon sources in energy production. Biodiesel is one of the best options, among other sources, due to its low footprint. Russia does not have a smart policy of state support for biofuel production. The work objective was to determine whether it is necessary to develop equipment for biodiesel production, taking into account the structure of cultivated areas and available technologies; to calculate economic indicators of biodiesel production for agricultural needs; to compare the options for spring rape cultivation; as well as calculate the government support optimal level. As research methods, the authors used the apparatus of economic and mathematical modeling, and the method of absolute, relative and average values. Statistical tables are used to present the research results. Based on our study results, it is proven that the homemade biodiesel production by agricultural enterprises is economically justified. The equipment needed for its production was determined, the main economic indicators of the fuel production type and the optimal value of monetary and labor costs were calculated, and the gross and market biofuel values were obtained. The optimum level of government support for biofuel production in the Middle Volga region should be EUR 13.223 million, and the area planted with oil crops should be increased by 47.1 thousand ha