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Catalysts
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Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa
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Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 August 2020) | Viewed by 131750

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. Benito Serrano

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Guest Editor
Unit of Electrical Engineering, Autonomous University of Zacatecas, Zacatecas 98160, Mexico
Interests: photocatalysis; reaction engineering; biomass catalytic gasification
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mozahar Hossain

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Chemical Engineering, King Fahd University of Petroleum & Minerals, Dhahran 31261, Saudi Arabia
Interests: catalysis and reaction engineering – in the areas of oxidative cracking/dehydrogenation of hydrocarbons; catalytic cracking of hydrocarbons, oil to chemicals; chemical looping; blue hydrogen; ammonia decomposition to hydrogen; biomass/heavy oil gasification; pyrolysis of waste materials
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Our journal is pleased to publish a Special Issue in honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa. Hugo is a Professor at the Department of Chemical and Biochemical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering of Western University (UWO), London, Ontario, Canada. Hugo graduated in 1968 with an Ingeniero Quimico (Chemical Engineer) degree from the Universidad Nacional del Sur in Argentina, and in 1971 with a “Cum Laude” Doctorate degree from the Université de Nancy in France. Dr. de Lasa is the founding Director of UWO's Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre (CREC), which has received significant financial support over the years.

Dr. de Lasa holds 12 U.S. and Canadian patents, including that of the CREC-Riser Simulator for the development of next generation catalysts and environmentally friendly gasolines, that of the CREC-Optiprobes for the design of novel chemical reactors, that of the Pseudoadiabatic Catalytic Reactor for the development of environmentally friendly fuels, and more recently, that of the Photo-CREC Reactor for the elimination of pollutants in air, water, and hydrogen production. In 2003, Professor de Lasa founded RECAT Technologies Inc., which is a UWO-affiliated spin-off company, specializing in the development and commercialization of his inventions. Through CREC and Recat, Hugo de Lasa has been collaborating with a diversity of industries and governmental agencies from about 25 countries.

Hugo is the author of 349 peer-reviewed publications and 6 books. His work has received in excess of 8149 citations with a 47h index. He has successfully supervised more than 47 PhD and 34 MESc degrees. He is the first author of the 2005 leading book Photocatalytic Reaction Engineering, which has received more than 362 citations. Since 1998, Dr. de Lasa has received numerous awards in Canada and abroad. In 2005 and in 2018, Hugo received Honoris Causa Doctorate degrees in Chemical Engineering from the Universidad Autonoma de Zacatecas, Mexico and the Universidad Nacional de La Patagonia-San Juan Bosco, Argentina.

In honor and recognition of Professor Hugo de Lasa's outstanding career contributions to the fields of heterogeneous catalysis, photocatalysis and catalytic reaction engineering, this Special Issue of Catalysts welcomes the submission of previously unpublished manuscripts from original work or reviews in these areas. We plan to receive submissions from 1 July 2019 to 31 August 2020. Manuscripts will be published online on an ongoing basis after being processed.

Dr. Benito Serrano
Prof. Dr. Mohammad Mozahar Hossain
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Catalysts is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2700 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • catalytic processes
  • catalysts
  • photocatalysts
  • fluidized catalysts
  • green catalytic technologies

Published Papers (28 papers)

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25 pages, 7449 KiB  
Article
Hydrogen Production via Pd-TiO2 Photocatalytic Water Splitting under Near-UV and Visible Light: Analysis of the Reaction Mechanism
by Bianca Rusinque, Salvador Escobedo and Hugo de Lasa
Catalysts 2021, 11(3), 405; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11030405 - 23 Mar 2021
Cited by 35 | Viewed by 7464
Abstract
Photocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting using a noble metal on a TiO2 is a technology that has developed rapidly over the past few years. Specifically, palladium doped TiO2 irradiated with near-UV or alternatively with visible light has shown promising results. [...] Read more.
Photocatalytic hydrogen production via water splitting using a noble metal on a TiO2 is a technology that has developed rapidly over the past few years. Specifically, palladium doped TiO2 irradiated with near-UV or alternatively with visible light has shown promising results. With this end in mind, strategically designed experiments were developed in the Photo-CREC Water-II (PCW-II) Reactor using a 0.25 wt.% Pd-TiO2 under near-UV and visible light, and ethanol as an organic scavenger. Acetaldehyde, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, methane, ethane, ethylene, and hydrogen peroxide together with hydrogen were the main chemical species observed. A Langmuir adsorption isotherm was also established for hydrogen peroxide. On this basis, it is shown that pH variations, hydrogen peroxide formation/adsorption, and the production of various redox chemical species provide an excellent carbon element balance, as well as OH• and H• radicals balances. Under near-UV irradiation, 113 cm3 STP of H2 is produced after 6 h, reaching an 99.8% elemental carbon balance and 99.2% OH• and H• and radical balance. It is also proven that a similar reaction network can be considered adequate for the photoreduced Pd-TiO2 photocatalyst yielding 29 cm3 STP of H2 with 95.4% carbon and the 97.5% OH•–H• radical balance closures. It is shown on this basis that a proposed “series-parallel” reaction network describes the water splitting reaction using the mesoporous Pd-TiO2 and ethanol as organic scavenger. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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14 pages, 3434 KiB  
Article
Scaling up a Gas-Phase Process for Converting Glycerol to Propane
by Christian Hulteberg and Andreas Leveau
Catalysts 2020, 10(9), 1007; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091007 - 03 Sep 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2560
Abstract
It is of interest to study not only the fundamental behavior of catalysts and reactors but also to ensure that they can be scaled up in size. This paper investigates the scale-up of a glycerol-to-propane process starting from fundamental laboratory data from micro-reactor [...] Read more.
It is of interest to study not only the fundamental behavior of catalysts and reactors but also to ensure that they can be scaled up in size. This paper investigates the scale-up of a glycerol-to-propane process starting from fundamental laboratory data from micro-reactor testing to the kilogram scale. The process is described in detail and consist of the use of design documents and computer simulations for determining the sizes of the unit operations involved. The final design included a vaporizer section for a glycerol/water mixture, four reactors in tandem with subsequent dehydration and hydrogenation reactions, a flash vessel to separate the excess hydrogen used, and a compressor for recycling the excess hydrogen with additional light components. The system was commissioned in a linear fashion, which is described, and operated for more than 3000 h and more than 1000 h in the final operating mode including recycle. The major results were that no catalyst deactivation was apparent aside from the slow build-up of carbonaceous material in the first dehydration reactor. That the system design calculations proved to be quite close to the results achieved and that the data generated is believed to be sufficient for up-scaling the process into the 1000 to 10,000 tonnes-per-annum range. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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19 pages, 7771 KiB  
Article
Hydrogenation of Furfural to Furfuryl Alcohol over Ru Particles Supported on Mildly Oxidized Biochar
by Raoof Bardestani, Rouholamin Biriaei and Serge Kaliaguine
Catalysts 2020, 10(8), 934; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10080934 - 13 Aug 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3616
Abstract
Catalytic hydrogenation of aldehydes is required as the stabilizing step in bio-oils conversion. Ruthenium supported on carbon was used in the present work for hydrogenation of furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FA). Converting a biochar with no surface area and low carboxyl groups [...] Read more.
Catalytic hydrogenation of aldehydes is required as the stabilizing step in bio-oils conversion. Ruthenium supported on carbon was used in the present work for hydrogenation of furfural (FF) to furfuryl alcohol (FA). Converting a biochar with no surface area and low carboxyl groups surface density to an outstanding catalyst support using a very simple mild air/steam oxidation is the original contribution of this work. The mildly oxidized biochar is impregnated with a targeted loading of 2.5 wt.% Ru via ion-exchange, using Ru(NH3)6Cl2 precursor. ICP analysis shows that the mild oxidation increases Ru adsorption capacity of untreated biochar from 1.2 to 2.2 wt.%. H2 chemisorption and TEM analysis indicate that the preliminary mild oxidation leads to higher Ru dispersion. XPS analysis also shows that the treatment prevents Ru from surface segregation. The highest value of 93% FA selectivity at 53% FF conversion was obtained in a batch autoclave reactor under optimized conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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10 pages, 3284 KiB  
Article
Mechanistic Investigation on Hydrocyanation of Butadiene: A DFT Study
by Kaikai Liu, Shuai Zhang and Minghan Han
Catalysts 2020, 10(8), 818; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10080818 - 22 Jul 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 4370
Abstract
The nickel-catalyzed addition of Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) to butadiene usually leads to a mixture of the branched 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile (2M3BN) and the linear 3-pentenenitrile (3PN) with a 30:70 ratio by employing mono-dentate phosphites, while a 97% selectivity to 3PN is obtained using a 1,4-bis(diphenyphosphino)butane [...] Read more.
The nickel-catalyzed addition of Hydrocyanic acid (HCN) to butadiene usually leads to a mixture of the branched 2-methyl-3-butenenitrile (2M3BN) and the linear 3-pentenenitrile (3PN) with a 30:70 ratio by employing mono-dentate phosphites, while a 97% selectivity to 3PN is obtained using a 1,4-bis(diphenyphosphino)butane (dppb) ligand and Ni(COD)2 (1,5-Cyclooctadiene) as catalysts. To explain this phenomenon, a reasonable mechanism of the hydrocyanation, involving the cyano (CN) migration (for 3PN) and the methylallyl rotation (for 2M3BN) pathways, is proposed. The key intermediates and the rate-determining steps in the pathways have been illustrated. The methylallyl rearrangement is the rate-determining step in the formation of 3PN while the reductive elimination governs the reaction to 2M3BN, which is subsequently isomerized to 3PN. Moreover, the opposite changes of the bite angle of the intermediates and transition states explain how the reactions proceed in two different directions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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27 pages, 7861 KiB  
Article
An Eco-Friendly Fluidizable FexOy/CaO-γ-Al2O3 Catalyst for Tar Cracking during Biomass Gasification
by Cindy Torres, Samira Rostom and Hugo de Lasa
Catalysts 2020, 10(7), 806; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10070806 - 20 Jul 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 3346
Abstract
The present study deals with the development, characterization, and performance evaluation of an eco-friendly catalyst, using 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (2M4MP) as a surrogate tar. The 2M4MP was selected due to its chemical functionalities and the fact that it is a good model compound to represent [...] Read more.
The present study deals with the development, characterization, and performance evaluation of an eco-friendly catalyst, using 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol (2M4MP) as a surrogate tar. The 2M4MP was selected due to its chemical functionalities and the fact that it is a good model compound to represent the tar formed during biomass low temperature gasification. The eco-friendly catalyst was prepared using the typical Fe and Ca minerals which are present in ash. These ash components were added to a fluidizable γ-Al2O3 support using a multistep incipient impregnation, yielding Fe oxides as an active phase and CaO as the promoter. The prepared catalyst displayed a 120 m2/g BET specific surface area, with few γ-Al2O3 bulk phase changes, as observed with XRD. TPD-NH3 and pyridine FTIR allowed us to show the significant influence of CaO reduced support acidity. A TPR analysis provided evidence of catalyst stability during consecutive reduction–oxidation cycles. Furthermore, catalyst evaluation vis-à-vis catalytic steam 2M4MP gasification was performed using the fluidized CREC riser simulator. The obtained results confirm the high performance of the developed catalyst, with 2M4MP conversion being close to 100% and with selectivities of up to 98.6% for C1-C2 carbon-containing species, at 500 °C, with a 7.5 s reaction time and 1.5 g steam/g 2M4MP. These high tar conversions are promising efficiency indicators for alumina catalysts doped with Fe and Ca. In addition, the used catalyst particles could be blended with biochar to provide an integrated solid supplement that could return valuable mineral supplements to the soil. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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15 pages, 1848 KiB  
Article
Parametric Sensitivity Analysis for the Industrial Case of O-Xylene Oxidation to Phthalic Anhydride in a Packed Bed Catalytic Reactor
by Santiago Zuluaga-Botero, Izabela Dobrosz-Gómez and Miguel-Ángel Gómez-García
Catalysts 2020, 10(6), 626; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10060626 - 04 Jun 2020
Viewed by 3972
Abstract
The operation of packed bed tubular reactors, for exothermic catalytic reactions, presents special challenges provoked by hotspot development. Their potential safety risk can be assessed using different mathematical methodologies, among them, the so-called parametric sensitivity analysis (PSA). This study deals with the identification [...] Read more.
The operation of packed bed tubular reactors, for exothermic catalytic reactions, presents special challenges provoked by hotspot development. Their potential safety risk can be assessed using different mathematical methodologies, among them, the so-called parametric sensitivity analysis (PSA). This study deals with the identification of safe operational conditions (e.g., feed temperature conditions) for the catalytic oxidation of o-xylene. Three different reaction networks, with different degrees of complexity, were analyzed. Thus, the critical values of the operating parameters, allowing us to define run-away and stable operation conditions, were provided for different reactive configurations. The obtained results were compared with the data reported by various authors who used similar reaction rate laws. The purpose of the present study is to illustrate the peculiarities of the PSA and its application for the design, analysis, and operation of o-xylene multitubular catalytic reactor. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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18 pages, 3497 KiB  
Article
Structure, Acidity, and Redox Aspects of VOx/ZrO2/SiO2 Catalysts for the n-Butane Oxidative Dehydrogenation
by José-Luis Sánchez-García, Brent E. Handy, Ilse N. Ávila-Hernández, Angel G. Rodríguez, Ricardo García-Alamilla and Maria-Guadalupe Cardenas-Galindo
Catalysts 2020, 10(5), 550; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10050550 - 15 May 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3006
Abstract
ZrOx/SiO2 and VOx/ZrOx/SiO2 catalysts (5 wt %–25 wt % Zr, 4 wt % V) were prepared by grafting zirconium and vanadium alkoxides on Aerosil 380. All samples were characterized by temperature programmed reduction, N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, Raman [...] Read more.
ZrOx/SiO2 and VOx/ZrOx/SiO2 catalysts (5 wt %–25 wt % Zr, 4 wt % V) were prepared by grafting zirconium and vanadium alkoxides on Aerosil 380. All samples were characterized by temperature programmed reduction, N2 physisorption, X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and ammonia adsorption microcalorimetry. Tetragonal ZrO2 and zircon (ZrSiO4) were present at 25 wt % Zr, but only amorphous zirconia overlayer existed for lower loadings. At lower Zr loadings (5 wt %–10 wt % Zr), exposed silica surface leads to V2O5 crystallites and isolated VO4 species, although V reducibility behavior changes, from being similar to VOx/SiO2 (5 wt % Zr) to showing VOx/ZrO2 behavior at 10 wt % Zr, and a diminished total amount of reducible V. Highly acidic ZrO2 sites are covered by the vanadium grafting, forming weaker sites (60–100 kJ/mol NH3 adsorption strength). Catalytic conversion and selectivity for the oxidative dehydrogenation of n-butane (673 K, n-C4/O2 = 2.2) over VOx/ZrOx/SiO2 show that 1,3-butadiene is favored over cis-2-butene and trans-2-butene, although there is some selectivity to the 2-butenes when VOx/ZrO2 behavior is evident. At low Zr loadings, butadiene formed during reaction acts as the diene species in a Diels–Alder reaction and gives rise to a cyclic compound that undergoes further dehydrogenation to produce benzaldehyde. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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15 pages, 3994 KiB  
Article
Nanostructured Magnéli-Phase W18O49 Thin Films for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
by A. K. Mohamedkhair, Q. A. Drmosh, Mohammad Qamar and Z. H. Yamani
Catalysts 2020, 10(5), 526; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10050526 - 10 May 2020
Cited by 21 | Viewed by 3411
Abstract
Converting water into hydrogen through the photo-electrochemical (PEC) process is one of the most exciting approaches in this field, and there is a quest to design or search for new electro-photo-catalytic materials. In this work, simple steps for fabrication and transformation of metallic [...] Read more.
Converting water into hydrogen through the photo-electrochemical (PEC) process is one of the most exciting approaches in this field, and there is a quest to design or search for new electro-photo-catalytic materials. In this work, simple steps for fabrication and transformation of metallic tungsten thin film into the photo-active Magnéli-phase (W18O49) of tungsten oxide thin film is demonstrated. The post-annealing temperature has a significant impact on the phase evolution of tungsten film into W18O49. The film thickness of W18O49 is controlled by controlling the sputtering time (or deposition time) of W film. The PEC performance of the as-prepared electrodes is evaluated by monitoring the water oxidation reaction under visible radiation. The PEC findings reveal a correlation between PEC performance and phase, morphology, and thickness of the film. The as-derived W18O49 can efficiently catalyze the water oxidation reaction at neutral solution pH, generating 0.6 and 1.4 mA cm−1 photo-current at 0.6 and 0.8 V vs. Saturated calomel electrode (SCE), respectively, in addition to excellent stability. The electrical conductivity and the charge transfer kinetics are investigated employing the electrochemical impedance spectroscopic (EIS) technique. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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8 pages, 2280 KiB  
Article
Carbon Formation at High Temperatures (550–1400 °C): Kinetics, Alternative Mechanisms and Growth Modes
by Luís Sousa Lobo and Sónia A. C. Carabineiro
Catalysts 2020, 10(5), 465; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10050465 - 25 Apr 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2693
Abstract
This Note aims at clarifying the alternative mechanisms of carbon formation from gases at temperatures above 550 °C. Both the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a hybrid route, and of graphene layers deposition by a pyrolytic route are analyzed: the transition had [...] Read more.
This Note aims at clarifying the alternative mechanisms of carbon formation from gases at temperatures above 550 °C. Both the growth of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) by a hybrid route, and of graphene layers deposition by a pyrolytic route are analyzed: the transition had no influence in apparent kinetics, but the carbon structure was totally different. The transition temperature from hybrid to pyrolytic growth varies with the gas pressure: higher temperature transition was possible using lower active gas pressures. The rate-determining step concept is essential to understanding the behavior. In catalytic and hybrid carbon formation, the slower step controls and determines kinetics. In the pyrolytic region, the faster step dominates, and carbon bulk diffusion is blocked: layers of graphene cover the external catalyst surface. It is easier to optimize CNTs growth (rate, shape, properties) knowing the details of the alternative mechanisms operating. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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22 pages, 4599 KiB  
Article
Free Radical Photopolymerization and 3D Printing Using Newly Developed Dyes: Indane-1,3-Dione and 1H-Cyclopentanaphthalene-1,3-Dione Derivatives as Photoinitiators in Three-Component Systems
by Ke Sun, Corentin Pigot, Hong Chen, Malek Nechab, Didier Gigmes, Fabrice Morlet-Savary, Bernadette Graff, Shaohui Liu, Pu Xiao, Frédéric Dumur and Jacques Lalevée
Catalysts 2020, 10(4), 463; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040463 - 24 Apr 2020
Cited by 38 | Viewed by 4016
Abstract
The design of photoinitiating systems with excellent photochemical reactivities at 405nm LED is one of the obstacles to efficiently promote free radical polymerization in mild conditions (e.g., low light intensity, under air). Here, our actual search for new multicomponent photoinitiating systems at 405nm [...] Read more.
The design of photoinitiating systems with excellent photochemical reactivities at 405nm LED is one of the obstacles to efficiently promote free radical polymerization in mild conditions (e.g., low light intensity, under air). Here, our actual search for new multicomponent photoinitiating systems at 405nm LED prompts us to develop new dyes based on push–pull structures. In the present paper, we chose two series of new dyes which possess indane-1,3-dione and 1H-cyclopenta naphthalene-1,3-dione groups as the electron-withdrawing groups, since they have the great potential to behave as sensitive and remarkable photoinitiators in vat photopolymerization/3D printing. When incorporated with a tertiary amine (ethyl dimethylaminobenzoate EDB, used as electron/hydrogen donor) and an iodonium salt (used as electron acceptor) as the three-component photoinitiating systems (PISs), and among a series of 21 dyes, 10 of them could efficiently promote the free radical photopolymerization of acrylates. Interestingly, steady state photolysis experiments revealed different behaviors of the dyes. Fluorescence experiments and free energy change calculations for redox processes were also carried out to investigate the relevant chemical mechanisms. Additionally, the formation of radicals from the investigated PISs was clearly observed by electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping experiments. Finally, stereoscopic 3D patterns were successfully fabricated by the laser writing technique. In this work, the use of push–pull dyes based on the naphthalene scaffold as photoinitiators of polymerization is reported for the first time in a systematic study aiming at investigating the structure–performance relationship for irradiation carried out at 405 nm. By carefully selecting the electron donors used in the two series of push–pull dyes, novel and high-performance photoinitiating systems operating at 405 nm are thus proposed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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23 pages, 6194 KiB  
Article
Bimetallic Pd-Au/SiO2 Catalysts for Reduction of Furfural in Water
by Magdalena Modelska, Michal J. Binczarski, Zbigniew Kaminski, Stanislaw Karski, Beata Kolesinska, Pawel Mierczynski, Courtney J. Severino, Andrei Stanishevsky and Izabela A. Witonska
Catalysts 2020, 10(4), 444; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040444 - 20 Apr 2020
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 4330
Abstract
Catalytic systems based on bimetallic Pd-Au particles deposited on SiO2 were prepared by ultrasonically assisted water impregnation and used in the hydrogenation of furfural obtained by the acidic hydrolysis of waste biomass (brewery’s spent grain) in aqueous phase. Pd-Au/SiO2 catalysts containing [...] Read more.
Catalytic systems based on bimetallic Pd-Au particles deposited on SiO2 were prepared by ultrasonically assisted water impregnation and used in the hydrogenation of furfural obtained by the acidic hydrolysis of waste biomass (brewery’s spent grain) in aqueous phase. Pd-Au/SiO2 catalysts containing 50 g of Pd and 2–100 g of Au per 1 kg of catalyst were characterized by high activity in the studied process and, depending on the Pd/Au ratio, selectivity to 2-methyloxolan-2-ol. The modification of 5%Pd/SiO2 by Au leads to the formation of dispersed Au-Pd solid solution phases, which was confirmed by XRD, XPS, ToF-SIMS, SEM-EDS, and H2-TPR techniques. The effect of dilution of surface palladium by gold atoms is probably crucial for modification of the reaction mechanism and formation of 2-methyloxolan-2-ol as the main product. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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15 pages, 2709 KiB  
Article
Dynamic and Steady State Evolution of Active Sites in H-ZSM5
by Khalid A. Al-Majnouni, Wojciech Supronowicz, Talal Aldugman, Nabil Al-Yassir, Ahmed Al-Zenaidi, Jens Nagengast and Thomas Matuszyk
Catalysts 2020, 10(4), 425; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040425 - 13 Apr 2020
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2409
Abstract
Catalytic cracking of hexane over steamed ZSM-5 is studied under steady state and dynamic conditions to elucidate the role of the active sites on the product distribution. The product distribution from the riser simulator representing the dynamic state of the catalyst cannot be [...] Read more.
Catalytic cracking of hexane over steamed ZSM-5 is studied under steady state and dynamic conditions to elucidate the role of the active sites on the product distribution. The product distribution from the riser simulator representing the dynamic state of the catalyst cannot be resembled from monocracking or bimolecular reactions by Bronsted acid sites alone. The catalyst promotes the hydride transfer function which controls the hexane conversion at 460–500 °C that flips into methanation function at 550 °C with a propene to ethene ratio of 1.04. In addition, hydrogen induction is observed in the first two pulses. Steady state data obtained from a fixed bed reactor, on the other side, shows that the product distribution is controlled by monomolecular cracking with low yield of methane and high propene to ethene ratio ranging from 4.3 to 3.3 depending on the temperature and conversion. We are not able to explain these data by considering the Bronsted acid sites alone and suggest that Lewis acid sites with short-lived activity are not inactive in the carbon-carbon activation before fading by coke deactivation. The reported findings are of importance to academia and industry and are very relevant to fluid catalytic cracking (FCC) processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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11 pages, 4597 KiB  
Article
Novel Low Temperature Route to Produce CdS/ZnO Composite Nanofibers as Effective Photocatalysts
by Abdullah M. Al-Enizi, M. M. El-Halwany, Mohammed A. Al-Abdrabalnabi, Mahmoud Bakrey, Mohd Ubaidullah and Ayman Yousef
Catalysts 2020, 10(4), 417; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040417 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 15 | Viewed by 2372
Abstract
In this work, CdS/ZnO composite nanofibers (NFs) were prepared by the electrospinning of a sol–gel comprised of poly(caprolactone), zinc acetate dihydrate, cadmium acetate dihydrate, and ammonium sulfide. The electrospun NF mats were calcined under vacuum in an argon (Ar) atmosphere at 200 °C [...] Read more.
In this work, CdS/ZnO composite nanofibers (NFs) were prepared by the electrospinning of a sol–gel comprised of poly(caprolactone), zinc acetate dihydrate, cadmium acetate dihydrate, and ammonium sulfide. The electrospun NF mats were calcined under vacuum in an argon (Ar) atmosphere at 200 °C for 1 h. Standard physiochemical analysis techniques demonstrated the formation of the crystalline hexagonal phase of CdS and ZnO. Composite NFs showed good photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) dye under visible light irradiation compared to their counterparts. CdS nanoparticles, ZnO nanofibers, and composite NFs photodegraded 35.5%, 47.3%, and 90% of the MB dye, respectively, within 100 min. The reaction kinetics of MB photodegradation using the composite NFs followed the pseudo-first-order relation. Owing to their facile preparation and good photodegradation ability, the proposed method can be used to prepare various photocatalysts for wastewater treatment. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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15 pages, 7453 KiB  
Article
The Impact of In Situ Polymerization Conditions on the Structures and Properties of PANI/ZnO-Based Multiphase Composite Photocatalysts
by Vanja Gilja, Ivana Živković, Teodoro Klaser, Željko Skoko, Marijana Kraljić Roković, Zlata Hrnjak-Murgić and Mark Žic
Catalysts 2020, 10(4), 400; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040400 - 05 Apr 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 2792
Abstract
We have synthesized polyaniline/ZnO-based (PANI/ZnO) multiphase composite photocatalysts from acid media by a newly proposed two-step in situ polymerization. The first step of synthesis yielded PANI salt required for the PANI/ZnO synergistic effect. In the second step, the aniline oxidation continued, without ZnO [...] Read more.
We have synthesized polyaniline/ZnO-based (PANI/ZnO) multiphase composite photocatalysts from acid media by a newly proposed two-step in situ polymerization. The first step of synthesis yielded PANI salt required for the PANI/ZnO synergistic effect. In the second step, the aniline oxidation continued, without ZnO dissolution, and it produced PANI base. Thus, both PANI salt and base phases in the composites were detected by FTIR and UV/Vis, while the presence of both ZnO and PANI polymer was confirmed by XRD. Additionally, XRD also showed Zn5(OH)8(NO3)2·2H2O and Zn(SO4)(H2O) phases in PANI/ZnO-based multiphase composites. Furthermore, the impact of the synthesis conditions on the morphology of the composites was investigated by FE-SEM. The images displayed that ZnO particles were encapsulated in PANI sheets that were formed by the aniline oligomers. Photocatalytic evaluation of PANI/ZnO-based catalysts (i.e., degradation of Acid Blue 25 dye) was conducted and the obtained results confirmed that all the studied composites experienced the PANI/ZnO synergistic effect. It was observed that the best photocatalytic properties were held by the PANI/ZnO_2 sample due to its optimal particle size. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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17 pages, 3127 KiB  
Article
LaCO3OH Nanoprisms and Their Luminescence and NO Reduction Properties
by Md. Hasan Zahir, Mohammad Mominur Rahman, Md Shafiullah, Mohammad Mizanur Rahman, Amjad Ali, Firoz Khan, Khaled Own Mohaisen and Masoud Al-Rasheidi
Catalysts 2020, 10(4), 394; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040394 - 03 Apr 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2790
Abstract
In this work, single-crystalline large-scale LaCO3OH nanoprism morphologies were synthesized by controlling La and Ca molar ratio and the hydrothermal reaction conditions. The nanoprism morphologies of LaCO3OH were unique in nature with a sharp corner and smooth surfaces. The [...] Read more.
In this work, single-crystalline large-scale LaCO3OH nanoprism morphologies were synthesized by controlling La and Ca molar ratio and the hydrothermal reaction conditions. The nanoprism morphologies of LaCO3OH were unique in nature with a sharp corner and smooth surfaces. The hydrothermal reaction was carried out in the absence of organic additives or templates and (NH4)2CO3 was used as a precipitation agent. The molar ratio of La:Ca was varied over the following values (the sample shorthand is given in parentheses): 75:25 mol% (LC-1), 50:50 mol% (LC-2), and 25:75 mol% (LC-3). Phase-pure LaCO3OH nanoprisms formed at a La:Ca molar ratio of 75:25 mol% without any assistance of catalysts or template. The photoluminescence (PL) properties of the as-synthesized powders showed one broad emission band centered at 394 nm after excitation of the pure LC-3 LaCO3OH nanoprisms at λ = 280 nm. The PL intensities were decreased in the order of LC-1 < LC-2< LC-3. The LC-1 and LC-2 samples had almost the same PL intensities probably due to their unique and smooth particle morphology. The calcination result of three samples treated for two hours at 800 °C, shows a reduction in NO activities over highly distributed CaO comprising La2O3. Further, under the presence of H2O and O2 vapor, CaO comprising La2O3 catalysts shows higher stability for the reduction of NO with CH4. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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13 pages, 3151 KiB  
Article
Study on Thermal Decomposition Behavior, Gaseous Products, and Kinetic Analysis of Bis-(Dimethylglyoximato) Nickel(II) Complex Using TG-DSC-FTIR-MS Technique
by Ergang Yao, Siyu Xu, Fengqi Zhao, Taizhong Huang, Haijian Li, Ningning Zhao, Jianhua Yi, Yanjing Yang and Changjian Wang
Catalysts 2020, 10(3), 331; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10030331 - 15 Mar 2020
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 5163
Abstract
The fiber-like bis-(dimethylglyoximato) nickel(II) complex, Ni(DMG)2 was successfully synthesized. The obtained samples were characterized by SEM-EDS, FT-IR, XRD, and XPS. The TG-DSC-FTIR-MS coupling technique was used to characterize the thermal decomposition behavior and evolved gas analysis of Ni(DMG)2. The non-isothermal [...] Read more.
The fiber-like bis-(dimethylglyoximato) nickel(II) complex, Ni(DMG)2 was successfully synthesized. The obtained samples were characterized by SEM-EDS, FT-IR, XRD, and XPS. The TG-DSC-FTIR-MS coupling technique was used to characterize the thermal decomposition behavior and evolved gas analysis of Ni(DMG)2. The non-isothermal decomposition reaction kinetic parameters were obtained by both combined kinetic analysis and isoconversional Vyazovkin methods. It was found that Ni(DMG)2 begins to decompose at around 280 °C, and a sharp exothermic peak is observed in the DSC curve at about 308.2 °C at a heating rate of 10 °C·min−1. The main gaseous products are H2O, NH3, N2O, CO, and HCN, and the content of H2O is significantly higher than that of the others. The activation energy obtained by the combined kinetic analysis method is 170.61 ± 0.65 kJ·mol−1. The decomposition process can be described by the random nucleation and growth of the nuclei model. However, it was challenging to attempt to evaluate the reaction mechanism precisely by one ideal kinetic model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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17 pages, 3932 KiB  
Article
Ru-Promoted Ni/Al2O3 Fluidized Catalyst for Biomass Gasification
by Alan Rubén Calzada Hernandez, Daniel Gibran González Castañeda, Adriana Sánchez Enriquez, Hugo de Lasa and Benito Serrano Rosales
Catalysts 2020, 10(3), 316; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10030316 - 10 Mar 2020
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3069
Abstract
Fluidizable catalysts based on Ni/Al2O3 with added Ru were used for the gasification of a lignin surrogate (2-methoxy-4-methylphenol) in a fluidized CREC Riser Simulator reactor. This was done in order to quantify lignin surrogate conversion and lignin surrogate products (H [...] Read more.
Fluidizable catalysts based on Ni/Al2O3 with added Ru were used for the gasification of a lignin surrogate (2-methoxy-4-methylphenol) in a fluidized CREC Riser Simulator reactor. This was done in order to quantify lignin surrogate conversion and lignin surrogate products (H2, CO, CO2 and CH4) as well as the coke deposited on the catalyst. The catalysts that were evaluated contained 5% wt. Ni with various Ru loadings (0.25%, 0.5% and 1% wt). These catalysts were synthesized using an incipient Ni and Ru co-impregnation. Catalysts were characterized using XRD, N2 adsorption-desorption (BET Surface Area, BJH), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR), Temperature Programmed Desorption (TPD) and H2 chemisorption. Catalytic steam gasification took place at 550, 600 and 650 °C using 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5, steam/biomass ratios. The results obtained showed that Ru addition helped to decrease both nickel crystallite site sizes and catalyst acid site density. Moreover, it was observed that coke on the catalyst was reduced by 60%. This was the case when compared to the runs with the Ni/Al2O3 free of Ru. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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14 pages, 3203 KiB  
Article
Nitric Acid Functionalization of Petroleum Coke to Access Inherent Sulfur
by Qing Huang, Annelisa S. Schafranski, Melanie J. Hazlett, Ye Xiao and Josephine M. Hill
Catalysts 2020, 10(2), 259; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10020259 - 20 Feb 2020
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 5401
Abstract
Sulfonated carbon-based catalysts have been identified as promising solid acid catalysts, and petroleum coke (petcoke), a byproduct of the oil industry, is a potential feedstock for these catalysts. In this study, sulfur-containing (6.5 wt%) petcoke was used as a precursor for these catalysts [...] Read more.
Sulfonated carbon-based catalysts have been identified as promising solid acid catalysts, and petroleum coke (petcoke), a byproduct of the oil industry, is a potential feedstock for these catalysts. In this study, sulfur-containing (6.5 wt%) petcoke was used as a precursor for these catalysts through direct functionalization (i.e., without an activation step) with nitric acid to access the inherent sulfur. Catalysts were also prepared using sulfuric acid and a mixture of nitric and sulfuric acid (1:3 vol ratio). Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and titration were used to identify and quantify the acid sites. The activities of the prepared catalysts were determined for the esterification of octanoic acid with methanol. Petcoke had few −SO3H groups, and correspondingly no catalytic activity for the reaction. All acid treatments increased the number of −SO3H groups and promoted esterification. Treatment with nitric acid alone resulted in the oxidation of the inherent sulfur in petcoke to produce ~0.7 mmol/g of strong acid sites and a total acidity of 5.3 mmol/g. The acidity (strong acid and total) was lower with sulfuric acid treatment but this sample was more active for the esterification reaction (TOF of 31 h−1 compared to 7 h−1 with nitric acid treatment). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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18 pages, 4092 KiB  
Article
Enhanced Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity of N and Ag Doped and Co-Doped TiO2 Synthesized by Using an In-Situ Solvothermal Method for Gas Phase Ammonia Removal
by Adilah Sirivallop, Thanita Areerob and Siriluk Chiarakorn
Catalysts 2020, 10(2), 251; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10020251 - 19 Feb 2020
Cited by 48 | Viewed by 5789
Abstract
Single doping and co-doping of N and Ag on TiO2 were successfully prepared by using an in-situ solvothermal method and their structural properties and chemical compositions were characterized. The results indicated that all photocatalysts displayed in TiO2 anatase crystal phase, and [...] Read more.
Single doping and co-doping of N and Ag on TiO2 were successfully prepared by using an in-situ solvothermal method and their structural properties and chemical compositions were characterized. The results indicated that all photocatalysts displayed in TiO2 anatase crystal phase, and a small mesoporous structure was observed in the doped materials. The main roles of N and Ag on the property and photocatalytic activity of TiO2 were different. The N doping has significantly enhanced homogenous surface morphology and specific surface area of the photocatalyst. While Ag doping was narrowing the band gap energy, extending light absorption toward a visible region by surface plasmon resonance as well as delaying the recombination rate of electron and hole of TiO2. The existence of N in TiO2 lattice was observed in two structural linkages such as substitutional nitrogen (Ti-O-N) and interstitial nitrogen (O-Ti-N). Silver species could be in the form of Ag0 and Ag2O. The photocatalytic performance of the photocatalysts coated on stainless steel mesh was investigated by the degradation of aqueous MB and gas phase NH3 under visible LED light illumination for three recycling runs. The highest photocatalytic activity and recyclability were reached in 5% N/Ag-TiO2 showing the efficiency of 98.82% for methylene blue (MB) dye degradation and 37.5% for NH3 removal in 6 h, which was 2.7 and 4.3 times, respectively. This is greater than that of pure TiO2. This was due to the synergistic effect of N and Ag doping. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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14 pages, 3307 KiB  
Article
The Influence of The Light-Activated Titania P25 on Human Breast Cancer Cells
by Agata Markowska-Szczupak, Zhishun Wei and Ewa Kowalska
Catalysts 2020, 10(2), 238; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10020238 - 17 Feb 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3292
Abstract
Cosmetics and other daily care products contain titanium(IV) oxide (titania). Since multiple risk factors can increase the chance of developing cancer, an evaluation of titania safety has become a matter of concern in recent times. However, it should be pointed out that titania [...] Read more.
Cosmetics and other daily care products contain titanium(IV) oxide (titania). Since multiple risk factors can increase the chance of developing cancer, an evaluation of titania safety has become a matter of concern in recent times. However, it should be pointed out that titania as an efficient photocatalyst has been also applied for inactivation of various pathogens, environmental purification and energy conversion, which might result in significant improvement of human life. Therefore, it is worth considering titania not only as a possible cancer initiator, but also as an efficient solution against cancer cells. Accordingly, in this study, the effect of commercial titania photocatalyst P25 (Degussa/Evonik) on breast adenocarcinoma MCF7 cells (ATCC® HTB-22™, breast adenocarcinoma cell line from human) has been investigated. The cells were treated with titania at doses of 10, 30, and 50 µg/mL under UVA/vis irradiation and in the dark. The significant morphological alterations in living cells were observed for larger doses of titania, such as changes in the shape and the size of cells, the deviation from the normal structure, and an increase in cells’ mortality. Moreover, the effect was significantly higher under irradiation than in the dark confirming strong photocatalytic activity of titania P25. In contrast, the lowest dose of titania (10 µg/mL) did not exhibit a significant impact on MCF7 cells, similarly to the nontreated cells. Accordingly, it has been proposed that locally applied titania might be considered for a cancer therapy after necessary in vivo tests to estimate any possibilities of side effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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24 pages, 4898 KiB  
Article
Photoreduction of a Pd-Doped Mesoporous TiO2 Photocatalyst for Hydrogen Production under Visible Light
by Bianca Rusinque, Salvador Escobedo and Hugo de Lasa
Catalysts 2020, 10(1), 74; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10010074 - 03 Jan 2020
Cited by 31 | Viewed by 5956
Abstract
Photoreduction with visible light can enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 for the production of hydrogen. In this article, we present a strategy to photoreduce a palladium-doped TiO2 photocatalyst by using near-UV light prior to its utilization. A sol-gel methodology was [...] Read more.
Photoreduction with visible light can enhance the photocatalytic activity of TiO2 for the production of hydrogen. In this article, we present a strategy to photoreduce a palladium-doped TiO2 photocatalyst by using near-UV light prior to its utilization. A sol-gel methodology was employed to prepare the photocatalysts with different metal loadings (0.25–5.00 wt% Pd). The structural and morphological characteristics of the synthesized Pd-TiO2 were analyzed by using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), BET Surface Area (SBET), TemperatureProgrammed Reduction (TPR), Chemisorption and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS). Hydrogen was produced by water splitting under visible light irradiation using ethanol as an organic scavenger. Experiments were developed in the Photo-CREC Water-II (PCW-II) Reactor designed at the CREC-UWO (Chemical Reactor Engineering Centre). It was shown that the mesoporous 0.25 wt% Pd-TiO2 with 2.5 1eV band gap exhibits, under visible light, the best hydrogen production performance, with a 1.58% Quantum Yield being achieved. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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15 pages, 7465 KiB  
Article
Energy-Saving UHMW Polymeric Flow Aids: Catalyst and Polymerization Process Development
by Muhammad Atiqullah, Abdelsalam H. Al-Sarkhi, Faisal M. Al-Thenayan, Abdullah R. Al-Malki and Hassan S. Alasiri
Catalysts 2019, 9(12), 1002; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9121002 - 28 Nov 2019
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 3106
Abstract
Crude oil and refinery products are transported worldwide to meet human energy needs. During transportation via pipeline, huge pumping power is required to overcome the frictional pressure drop and the associated drag along the pipeline. The reduction of both is of great interest [...] Read more.
Crude oil and refinery products are transported worldwide to meet human energy needs. During transportation via pipeline, huge pumping power is required to overcome the frictional pressure drop and the associated drag along the pipeline. The reduction of both is of great interest to industry and academia. Highly expensive ultrahigh molecular weight (UHMW, MW a million Dalton) drag reducing polymers (DRPs) are currently used to address this problem. The present paper, therefore, emphasizes particularly the development of a high-performance catalyst system that synthesizes DRPs (using higher alpha-olefins)—a highly promising cost reduction alternative. This homogeneous catalyst system features a new concept that uses a cost-effective titanium-based Ziegler–Natta precatalyst and a cocatalystLewis base complex having both steric hindrance (around N heteroatom) and electronic effect. This novel work, which involves precatalyst–cocatalyst molecular separation and cocatalystmonophenyl amine association-dissociation phenomena, already generated several US patents. The subject catalyst prepares UHMW DRPs at room temperature, avoiding the use of zero and sub-zero temperatures. The resulting product almost tripled the rate of transportation of a selected grade of refinery product and saved about 50% pumping energy at ppm level pipeline concentration. It is also very easily soluble. Hence, massive modification of existing pipeline will be unnecessary. This will save additional infrastructure cost. This paper also summarizes challenges facing the development of improved heterogeneous catalysts, dispersed polymerization process, molecular simulation-based DRP product formulation, and model/theory of turbulent mixing and dispersion in the transportation pipeline setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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15 pages, 2176 KiB  
Article
Synthesis of Fatty Acid Methyl Esters from Pomace Oil Catalyzed by Zinc Stearate: A Kinetic Study of the Transesterification and Esterification Reactions
by Mariana Soledad Alvarez Serafini and Gabriela Marta Tonetto
Catalysts 2019, 9(12), 978; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal9120978 - 21 Nov 2019
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3916
Abstract
In this work, the simultaneous transesterification and esterification reactions of olive pomace oil with methanol catalyzed by zinc stearate were studied. This catalyst is a crystalline solid at room temperature, but it is soluble in the reaction medium at reaction temperature. Zinc stearate [...] Read more.
In this work, the simultaneous transesterification and esterification reactions of olive pomace oil with methanol catalyzed by zinc stearate were studied. This catalyst is a crystalline solid at room temperature, but it is soluble in the reaction medium at reaction temperature. Zinc stearate has surfactant properties that cause the formation of an emulsion in the reaction system. The stability of the emulsion formed in the oil–methanol–catalyst system was compared to that in the FAME (fatty acid methyl esters)–methanol–catalyst system. It was observed that the emulsion formed in the presence of high amounts of FAME is much more unstable, which makes the catalyst easy to separate from the reaction products. The kinetics of esterification and transesterification were also studied. All the kinetic and equilibrium constants were determined with a complete model, considering the three stepwise reactions corresponding to the transesterification of triglycerides and the esterification of free fatty acids. The parameters obtained were used to model the operating conditions that would allow obtaining biodiesel that meets the quality standards. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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Review

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27 pages, 7345 KiB  
Review
The Origin of Au/Ce1-xZrxO2 Catalyst’s Active Sites in Low-Temperature CO Oxidation
by Izabela Dobrosz-Gómez, Miguel-Ángel Gómez-García and Jacek Michał Rynkowski
Catalysts 2020, 10(11), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111312 - 13 Nov 2020
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 2208
Abstract
Gold catalysts have found applications in many reactions of both industrial and environmental importance. Great interest has been paid to the development of new processes that reduce energy consumption and minimize pollution. Among these reactions, the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) is [...] Read more.
Gold catalysts have found applications in many reactions of both industrial and environmental importance. Great interest has been paid to the development of new processes that reduce energy consumption and minimize pollution. Among these reactions, the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide (CO) is an important one, considering that a high concentration of CO in the atmosphere creates serious health and environmental problems. This paper examines the most important achievements and conclusions arising from the own authorship contributions concerning (2 wt. % Au)/Ce1−xZrxO2 catalyst’s active sites in low-temperature CO oxidation. The main findings of the present review are: (1) The effect of preparing conditions on Au crystallite size, highlighting some of the fundamental underpinnings of gold catalysis: the Au surface composition and the poisoning effect of residual chloride on the catalytic activity of (2 wt. % Au)/Ce1−xZrxO2 catalysts in CO oxidation; (2) The identification of ion clusters related to gold and their effect on catalyst’ surface composition; (3) The importance of physicochemical properties of oxide support (e.g., its particle size, oxygen mobility at low temperature and redox properties) in the creation of catalytic performance of Au catalysts; (4) The importance of oxygen vacancies, on the support surface, as the centers for oxygen molecule activation in CO reaction; (5) The role of moisture (200–1000 ppm) in the generation of enhanced CO conversion; (6) The Au-assisted Mars-van Krevelen (MvK) adsorption–reaction model was pertinent to describe CO oxidation mechanism. The principal role of Au in CO oxidation over (2 wt. % Au)/Ce1−xZrxO2 catalysts was related to the promotion in the transformation process of reversibly adsorbed or inactive surface oxygen into irreversibly adsorbed active species; (7) Combination of metallic gold (Au0) and Au-OH species was proposed as active sites for CO adsorption. These findings can help in the optimization of Au-containing catalysts. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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25 pages, 2557 KiB  
Review
Application of Heterogeneous Catalysts for Biodiesel Production from Microalgal Oil—A Review
by Mohammed O. Faruque, Shaikh A. Razzak and Mohammad M. Hossain
Catalysts 2020, 10(9), 1025; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091025 - 07 Sep 2020
Cited by 126 | Viewed by 12782
Abstract
The depletion of fossil fuel reserves and increased environmental concerns related to fossil fuel production and combustion has forced the global communities to search for renewable fuels. In this regard, microalgae-based biodiesel has been considered as one of the interesting alternatives. Biodiesel production [...] Read more.
The depletion of fossil fuel reserves and increased environmental concerns related to fossil fuel production and combustion has forced the global communities to search for renewable fuels. In this regard, microalgae-based biodiesel has been considered as one of the interesting alternatives. Biodiesel production from the cultivation of microalgae is eco-friendly and sustainable. Moreover, microalgae have several advantages over other bioenergy sources, including their good photosynthetic capacity and faster growth rates. The productivity of microalgae per unit land area is also significantly higher than that of terrestrial plants. The produced microalgae biomass is rich with high quality lipids, which can be converted into biodiesel by transesterification reactions. Generally, the transesterification reactions are carried out in the presence of a homogeneous or heterogeneous catalyst. The homogeneous catalysts have many disadvantages, including their single use, slow reaction rate and saponification issues due to the presence of fatty acids in the feedstock. The acidic nature of the homogeneous catalysts also causes equipment corrosion. On the other hand, the heterogeneous catalysts offer several advantages, including their reusability, higher reaction rate and selectivity, easy product/catalyst separation and low cost. Due to these facts, the development of solid phase transesterification catalysts have been receiving growing interest. The present review is focused on the use of heterogeneous catalysts for biodiesel production from microalgal oil as a reliable feedstock with a comparison to other available feedstocks. It also highlights optimal reaction conditions for maximum biodiesel yields, reusability of the solid catalysts, cost, and environmental impact. The superior lipid content of microalgae and the efficient concurrent esterification and transesterification of the solid acid−base catalysts can offer new advancements in biodiesel production. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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38 pages, 7405 KiB  
Review
Photocatalysis for Air Treatment Processes: Current Technologies and Future Applications for the Removal of Organic Pollutants and Viruses
by Salvador Escobedo and Hugo de Lasa
Catalysts 2020, 10(9), 966; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10090966 - 24 Aug 2020
Cited by 24 | Viewed by 6947
Abstract
Photocatalysis for air treatment or photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) is a relatively new technology which requires titanium dioxide (TiO2) and a source of light (Visible or near-UV) to degrade pollutants contained in air streams. Present approaches for the photodegradation of indoor pollutants [...] Read more.
Photocatalysis for air treatment or photocatalytic oxidation (PCO) is a relatively new technology which requires titanium dioxide (TiO2) and a source of light (Visible or near-UV) to degrade pollutants contained in air streams. Present approaches for the photodegradation of indoor pollutants in air streams aim to eliminate volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and viruses, which are both toxic and harmful to human health. Photocatalysis for air treatment is an inexpensive and innovative green process. Additionally, it is a technology with a reduced environmental footprint when compared to other conventional air treatments which demand significant energy, require the disposal of used materials, and release CO2 and other greenhouse gases to the environment. This review discusses the most current and relevant information on photocatalysis for air treatment. This article also provides a critical review of (1) the most commonly used TiO2-based semiconductors, (2) the experimental syntheses and the various photocatalytic organic species degradation conversions, (3) the developed kinetics and computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and (4) the proposed Quantum Yields (QYs) and Photocatalytic Thermodynamic Efficiency Factors (PTEFs). Furthermore, this article contains important information on significant factors affecting the photocatalytic degradation of organic pollutants, such as reactor designs and type of photoreactor irradiation. Overall, this review describes state-of-the-art photocatalysis for air treatment to eliminate harmful indoor organic molecules, reviewing as well the potential applications for the inactivation of SARS-CoV2 (COVID-19) viruses. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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24 pages, 3427 KiB  
Review
Propane Oxidative Dehydrogenation on Vanadium-Based Catalysts under Oxygen-Free Atmospheres
by Samira Rostom and Hugo de Lasa
Catalysts 2020, 10(4), 418; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10040418 - 10 Apr 2020
Cited by 23 | Viewed by 6242
Abstract
Catalytic propane oxidative dehydrogenation (PODH) in the absence of gas phase oxygen is a promising approach for propylene manufacturing. PODH can overcome the issues of over-oxidation, which lower propylene selectivity. PODH has a reduced environmental footprint when compared with conventional oxidative dehydrogenation, which [...] Read more.
Catalytic propane oxidative dehydrogenation (PODH) in the absence of gas phase oxygen is a promising approach for propylene manufacturing. PODH can overcome the issues of over-oxidation, which lower propylene selectivity. PODH has a reduced environmental footprint when compared with conventional oxidative dehydrogenation, which uses molecular oxygen and/or carbon dioxide. This review discusses both the stoichiometry and the thermodynamics of PODH under both oxygen-rich and oxygen-free atmospheres. This article provides a critical review of the promising PODH approach, while also considering vanadium-based catalysts, with lattice oxygen being the only oxygen source. Furthermore, this critical review focuses on the advances that were made in the 2010–2018 period, while considering vanadium-based catalysts, their reaction mechanisms and performances and their postulated kinetics. The resulting kinetic parameters at selected PODH conditions are also addressed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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17 pages, 825 KiB  
Review
SiO2@TiO2 Composite Synthesis and Its Hydrophobic Applications: A Review
by Alicia Rosales and Karen Esquivel
Catalysts 2020, 10(2), 171; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10020171 - 02 Feb 2020
Cited by 43 | Viewed by 12910
Abstract
Titanium dioxide is well known for its photocatalytic properties and low toxicity, meanwhile, silicone dioxide exhibits hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties and thermal stability. The union of these two materials offers a composite material with a wide range of applications that relate directly to [...] Read more.
Titanium dioxide is well known for its photocatalytic properties and low toxicity, meanwhile, silicone dioxide exhibits hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties and thermal stability. The union of these two materials offers a composite material with a wide range of applications that relate directly to the combined properties. The SiO2-TiO2 composite has been synthesized through physical methods and chemical methods and, with adequate conditions, morphology, crystallinity, boundaries between SiO2-TiO2, among other properties, can be controlled. Thus, the applications of this composite are wide for surface applications, being primarily used as powder or coating. However, the available research information on this kind of composite material is still novel, therefore research in this field is still needed in order to clarify all the physical and chemical properties of the material. This review aims to encompass the available methods of synthesis of SiO2-TiO2 composite with modifiers or dopants, the application and known chemical and physical properties in surfaces such as glass, mortar and textile, including aspects for the development of this material. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Commemorative Issue in Honor of Professor Hugo de Lasa)
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