Title

Part I. Synthesis and applications of molecular sieves. Part II. The effect of temperature and support in reduction of cobalt oxide: An in situ XRD study

Date of Completion

January 2004

Keywords

Engineering, Materials Science

Degree

Ph.D.

Abstract

Part I. Alkylation of aniline (PhNH2) with methanol (MeOH) over co-crystallized zeolite RHO-Zeolite X (FAU) and over zeolite Linde Type L (Sr,K-LTL) as catalysts has been studied. Co-crystallized zeolite RHO-Zeolite X (FAU) favors the formation of N,N-dimethylaniline (NNDMA), with high selectivity >90%, having an advantage over pure zeolite X(FAU) of staying active even after 10 h of reaction. Activity of co-crystallized RHO-Zeolite X (FAU) is higher than that for Sr,K-LTL in terms of production of NNDMA. ^ Octahedral molecular sieves (OMS-2) have been reported as catalysts for oxidation reactions. Effects of using polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) in the synthesis of OMS-2 have been studied. Structure of OMS-2 was kept when PVA or PVP were used as indicated by XRD and FTIR data. PVA and PVP were useful to improve the film hardness of OMS-2 applied on glass surfaces as measured by the pencil hardness test, and Knoop microhardness test. By using PVA or PVP as non-chelating agents, an increase in surface area from 59 (m2/g) to 114 (m2/g), a decrease in particle size, from 29.8 nm to 12.1 nm, and a hardness value of 4H using the pencil hardness test, and 17.73 HK by Knoops micro hardness tests for OMS-2 prepared with PVA were observed.^ ZK-5 (KFI) molecular sieve was synthesized in the K2O: SrO: Al2O3: SiO2: 160 H2O: THF system using conventional hydrothermal heating. Products were characterized by XRD, TGA, FESEM, EDX and TPD-MS. Molar ratios of THF/Al2O3 from 0.4 to 1.0 gives best results in terms of crystallinity and purity for the prepared ZK-5. ^ Part II. Reduction of cobalt oxide (Co 3O4) at different temperatures and in combination with different modifiers and supported on γ-Al2O3 was monitored by in situ X-ray diffraction. Complete reduction of cobalt oxide to the (hcp) phase is observed at 250°C. Different reduction sequence can give different results in terms of crystalline phase obtained for cobalt even if the same maximum reduction temperature is reached. Supported Co 3O4 was reduced at 350°C to CoO and Co metal (hcp). Addition of modifiers increases the ratio of cobalt metal obtained as calculated by X-ray intensity ratios. ^

Link to Full Text
COinS