Influence of drying technique on physicochemical properties of bimodal meso-macropore structure of silica support

[EN] Drying process directly affect in structure of the silica support for catalysts. Therefore, we herein prepared bimodal meso-macropore structure of silica by sol-gel method and investigated the silica support obtained from various drying techniques, namely, hot air drying (HA), microwave drying(MW)and freeze drying (FD)by means of BET and BJH N2-sorption, and SEM. The results showed a significant effect of drying technique on the textural properties of the dried bimodal porous silica support. In addition, it was found that freeze drying could enhance surface area of silica support with higher than 500 m2/g.The authors express their sincere appreciation to the Kasetsart University Research and Development Institute (KURDI) and the Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology, National Science and Technology Development Agency ( NSTDA) for supporting the study financially.Panchan, N.; Niamnuy, C.; Chukeaw, T.; Seubsai, A.; Devahastin, S.; Chareonpanich, M. (2018). Influence of drying technique on physicochemical properties of bimodal meso-macropore structure of silica support. En IDS 2018. 21st International Drying Symposium Proceedings. Editorial Universitat Politècnica de València. 1935-1942. https://doi.org/10.4995/IDS2018.2018.8369OCS1935194

Tuning adsorption properties of GaxIn2−xO3 catalysts for enhancement of methanol synthesis activity from CO2 hydrogenation at high reaction temperature

Light olefins can be produced from CO2 hydrogenation in a single reactor using a combination of a methanol synthesis catalyst and a methanol-to-olefin (MTO) catalyst. However, commercial methanol synthesis catalysts are active at low temperatures (200–260 °C), while MTO reaction is feasible at higher temperatures (>300 °C). Herein, we report the CO2 hydrogenation to methanol at high temperatures (320–400 °C) over GaxIn2−xO3 catalysts. By tuning the Ga/In ratios, phase, crystallinity, pore structure, morphology, electronic properties as well as adsorptive properties of GaxIn2−xO3 catalysts can be modified. At the lowest temperature (320 °C), the pure In2O3 shows the highest methanol yield. However, the maximum methanol yield declines significantly with increasing reaction temperatures. Incorporation of Ga into the In2O3 crystal lattices at x = 0.4 (Ga0.4In1.6O3) maximizes the methanol yield at higher reaction temperatures of 340–360 °C. This enhancement can be attributed to an increased binding energy of adsorptive molecules with the catalyst surface to promote the hydrogenation of CO2 to methanol. Further increasing Ga content (x > 0.4) leads to greatly strengthen the binding for adsorptive molecules, resulting in a lower methanol yield and the formation of methane. The surface chemisorbed oxygen is found to be a key factor determining the CO yield

Tuning interactions of surface‐adsorbed species over Fe−Co/K−Al2O3 catalyst by different K contents: selective CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins

Selective CO2 hydrogenation to light olefins over Fe−Co/K−Al2O3 catalysts was enhanced by tuning bonding strengths of adsorbed species by varying the content of the K promotor. Increasing the K/Fe atomic ratio from 0 to 0.5 increased the olefins/paraffins (O/P) ratio by 25.4 times, but then slightly raised upon ascending K/Fe to 2.5. The positive effect of K addition is attributed to the strong interaction of H adsorbed with the catalyst surface caused by the electron donor from K to Fe species. Although the Fe−Co/K−Al2O3 catalyst with K/Fe=2.5 reached the highest O/P ratio of 7.6, the maximum yield of light olefins of 16.4 % was achieved by the catalyst promoted with K/Fe of 0.5. This is explained by the considerable reduction of amount of H2 adsorbed on the catalyst surface with K/Fe=2.5

Effect of pore size and surface chemistry of porous silica on CO2 adsorption

In the present study, porous silica synthesized using sodium silicate as a low-cost raw material was selected as a CO2sorbent. The effects of pore size and amount of silanol content on CO2 adsorption capacity were investigated. The physicalproperties and surface chemistry (silanol content) of the porous silica products were characterized by means of N2-physisorption, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and thermogravimetric analysis technique. The pore size of the poroussilica materials did not affect the equilibrium CO2 capacity; however the porous silica with large pore size could enhance thediffusion of CO2. The amount of silanol content was found to be a key factor for the CO2 adsorption capacity. A greater CO2adsorption capacity would be obtained with an increase of the silanol concentration on the surface of the porous silicamaterials

Hydrophilic and Hydrophobic Mesoporous Silica Derived from Rice Husk Ash as a Potential Drug Carrier

This work describes the preparation of mesoporous silica by the green reaction of rice husk ash (RHA) with glycerol, followed by the modification and the potential use as a drug carrier. The reaction was carried out at 215 °C for 2 h. The solution was further hydrolyzed with deionized water and aged for various times (24, 48, 120, 360, 528 and 672 h) before calcinations at 500 °C for 24 h. Further treatment of prepared mesoporous silica was performed using trimethylmethoxysilane (TMMS) to obtain hydrophobic Mesoporous silica. For all synthesized silicas, silica contents were as high as 95 wt %, whereas organic residues were less than 3 wt %. RHA-glycerol showed the highest specific surface area with smallest pore diameter (205.70 m2/g, 7.46 nm) when aged for 48 h. The optimal hydrolysis-ageing period of 120 h resulted in 500.7 m2/g specific surface area, 0.655 cm3/g pore volume and 5.23 nm pore diameter. The surface modification of RHA-glycerol occurred through the reaction with TMMS as confirmed by FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy). Ibuprofen was selected as a model drug for the adsorption experiments. The adsorption under supercritical CO2 was carried out at isothermal temperature of 40 °C and 100 bar; % ibuprofen loading of TMMS modified mesoporous silica (TMMS-g-MS) was 6 times less than that of mesoporous silica aged for 24 h (MS-24h) due to the hydrophobic nature of modified mesoporous silica, not surface and pore characteristics. The release kinetics of ibuprofen-loaded mesoporous silicas were also investigated in vitro. The release rate of ibuprofen-loaded MS-24h was much faster than that of ibuprofen-loaded TMMS-g-MS, but comparable to the crystalline ibuprofen. The slower release rate was attributed to the diffusion control and the stability of hydrophobic nature of modified silica. This would allow the design of a controlled release drug delivery system

Chromium-Ruthenium Oxides Supported on Gamma-Alumina as an Alternative Catalyst for Partial Combustion of Methane

Catalyst screening of γ-Al2O3-supported, single-metal and bimetallic catalysts revealed several bimetallic catalysts with activities for partial combustion of methane greater than a benchmark Pt/γ-Al2O3 catalyst. A cost analysis of those catalysts identified that the (2 wt%Cr + 3 wt% Ru)/γ-Al2O3 catalyst, denoted as 2Cr3Ru/Al2O3, was about 17.6 times cheaper than the benchmark catalyst and achieved a methane conversion of 10.50% or 1.6 times higher than the benchmark catalyst based on identical catalyst weights. In addition, various catalyst characterization techniques were performed to determine the physicochemical properties of the catalysts, revealing that the particle size of RuO2 became smaller and the binding energy of Ru 3d also shifted toward a lower energy. Moreover, the operating conditions (reactor temperature and O2/CH4 ratio), stability, and reusability of the 2Cr3Ru/Al2O3 catalyst were investigated. The stability test of the catalyst over 24 h was very good, without any signs of coke deposition. The reusability of the catalyst for five cycles (6 h for each cycle) was noticeably excellent

Bagasse heavy ash-derived Zn-loaded porous silica with tunable mesopores: Effect of monomodal and bimodal pores on VOCs adsorption

ABSTRACT: This work aimed to utilize bagasse heavy ash for bimodal mesoporous silica (BPS) synthesis through a novel and environmentally-friendly synthesis process using a single–template pH alteration process. The surface functional groups over the BPS products were then modified using Zn precursor, and the obtained samples were examined for the adsorption of methanol, butanol, hexane, and benzene. Effects of hydrolysis–condensation rate controlled by varying sulfuric acid concentrations in the synthesis process on the formation of controllable bimodal mesopores were systematically investigated. The Zn-loaded bagasse ash-derived BPS products exhibited outstanding adsorption performances, especially for methanol and benzene adsorption over the BPS with medium to large pores, of approximately 4.10 and 7.51 times those over the monomodal mesoporous silica (MPS), due to the existence of large pores within the BPS products. The potential application of bagasse heavy ash-derived bimodal mesoporous silica absorbents in adsorption—separation processes are evidently demonstrated

Temporal development of arsenic speciation and extractability in acidified and non-acidified paddy soil amended with silicon-rich fly ash and manganese- or zinc-oxides under flooded and drainage conditions

Oxides of silicon (Si), manganese (Mn), and zinc (Zn) have been used as soil amendments to reduce As mobility and uptake in paddy soil systems. However, these amendments are hypothesized to be affected differently depending on the soil pH and their effect on As speciation in rice paddy systems is not fully understood. Herein, we used a microcosm experiment to investigate the effects of natural Si-rich fly ash and synthetic Mn and Zn oxides on the temporal development of porewater chemistry, including aqueous As speciation (As(III), As(V), MMA, DMA, and DMMTA) and solid-phase As solubility, in a naturally calcareous soil with or without soil acidification (with sulfuric acid) during 28 days of flooding and subsequent 14 days of drainage. We found that soil acidification to pH 4.5 considerably increased the solubility of Si, Fe, Mn, and Zn compared to the non-acidified soil. Additions of Mn and Zn oxides decreased the concentrations of dissolved arsenite and arsenate in the non-acidified soil whereas additions of Zn oxide and combined Si–Zn oxides increased them in the acidified soil. The Si-rich fly ash did not increase dissolved Si and As in the acidified and non-acidified soils. Dimethylated monothioarsenate (DMMTA) was mainly observed in the acidified soil during the later stage of soil flooding. The initial 28 days of soil flooding decreased the levels of soluble and exchangeable As and increased As associated with Mn oxides, whereas the subsequent 14 days of soil drainage reversed the trend. This study highlighted that soil acidification considerably controlled the solubilization of Ca and Fe, thus influencing the soil pH-Eh buffering capacity, the solubility of Si, Mn, and Zn oxides, and the mobility of different As species in carbonate-rich and acidic soils under redox fluctuations.ISSN:0045-6535ISSN:1879-129