Impact of Zr Incorporation into the Ni/AlSBA-15 Catalyst on Its Activity in Cellulose Conversion to Hydrogen-Rich Gas

This work focused on the investigation of the effect of zirconium incorporation into the structure of the Ni/AlSBA-15 catalyst on its performance in high-temperature conversion of cellulose (the main component of lignocellulosic feedstock) to hydrogen-rich gas. The modified supports were prepared by direct incorporation of zirconium and impregnation methods. The obtained results exhibited that introduction of zirconium into the structure of Ni/AlSBA-15 allowed for a considerable increase in the amount of hydrogen produced in the studied process in comparison to unmodified Ni/AlSBA-15 material. The characterization of physicochemical properties of the investigated materials (X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy–energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, time-of-flight secondary ion mass spectrometry, temperature-programmed reduction, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, etc.) showed that the preparation of mesoporous Ni/ZrAlSBA-15 with the use of the direct synthesis method led to obtaining the catalyst with a higher surface area and pore volume and smaller crystallites of an active phase in comparison to the material containing nickel supported on ZrAlSBA-15 with zirconium introduced by impregnation. Despite that the mesoporous catalyst prepared by impregnation possessed higher acidity, its structure underwent partial collapse during the preparation procedure

DSC spectra of RU (black) and RU-β-CD (red).

<p>DSC spectra of RU (black) and RU-β-CD (red).</p

Changes of binding energy of molecules in complex in respect to rotation degree.

<p>Changes of binding energy of molecules in complex in respect to rotation degree.</p

Parameters characterizing the concentration of free radicals described by equation 4.

<p>Parameters characterizing the concentration of free radicals described by <a href="http://www.plosone.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pone.0120858#pone.0120858.e004" target="_blank">equation 4</a>.</p

FT-IR absorption spectra for β-CD (red), RU (black) and RU-β-CD complex (blue).

<p>FT-IR absorption spectra for β-CD (red), RU (black) and RU-β-CD complex (blue).</p

SEM images of β-CD (A), RU (B), RU-β-CD (C).

<p>SEM images of β-CD (A), RU (B), RU-β-CD (C).</p

Phase-solubility diagram of RU-β-CD inclusion complex.

<p>Phase-solubility diagram of RU-β-CD inclusion complex.</p

Binding modes of β-CD and RU-β-CD inclusion complex.

<p>Binding modes of β-CD and RU-β-CD inclusion complex.</p

The semilogarithmic relationship k_i = f(1/T) for the degradation of RU-β-CD in 0.5 mol/L HCl (●) and in 0.2 mol/L NaOH (■).

<p>The semilogarithmic relationship k_i = f(1/T) for the degradation of RU-β-CD in 0.5 mol/L HCl (●) and in 0.2 mol/L NaOH (■).</p

Dissolution profile of RU from RU-β-CD inclusion complex.

<p>Dissolution profile of RU from RU-β-CD inclusion complex.</p