Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests

A special issue of Catalysts (ISSN 2073-4344). This special issue belongs to the section "Environmental Catalysis".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (10 April 2022) | Viewed by 32049

Special Issue Editors


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Institute of Chemical Engineering, Polish Academy of Sciences, Bałtycka 5, 44-100 Gliwice, Poland
Interests: structured reactors; chemical reaction engineering; chemical reactor design; modeling and simulation
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Guest Editor
Cracow Univ Technol, Fac Chem Engn & Technol, Warszawska 24, PL-31155 Krakow, Poland
Interests: structured reactors; spectroscopy; catalytic combustion; deNOx; metal organic frameworks
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Guest Editor
Faculty of Materials Science and Ceramics, AGH University of Science and Technology, Krakow, Poland
Interests: material engineering; structure and microstructure of building materials; IR and NMR spectroscopy; corrosion; chemistry of building materials
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Rising demand for environmental protection has led to an intensive search for ever more effective solutions characterized by, for example, higher selectivity or yield, lower energy consumption, and even more compact geometry in catalytic converters. Therefore, researchers are still trying to develop active catalysts using effective techniques for catalyst deposition (e.g., sonochemical) as well as new catalyst supports, characterized by a favourable trade-off between mass (heat) transfer and flow resistance (e.g., wire meshes, short monoliths, and solid foams).

Therefore, the aim of the present Special Issue is to collect recent and the most up to date reports on the development, optimization, and testing of catalytic reactors, especially but not only used in environmental protection processes at every stage of their design, from microscale (e.g., identification of molecules involved in a unitary elementary act, surface analysis, and determining the reaction mechanism), through mesoscale (preparation and catalyst deposition) and macroscale (reactor design and modeling), to application tests. Broad contributions, including experimental and computational studies, would be valuable subjects of this Special Issue.

Dr. Anna Gancarczyk
Prof. Dr. Przemysław Jodłowski
Prof. Dr. Maciej Sitarz
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • catalyst characterizations
  • catalysts
  • spectroscopy
  • metal–support interactions
  • reaction kinetics
  • modeling and simulation
  • structured reactors
  • application study

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (10 papers)

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Research

Jump to: Review

13 pages, 2620 KiB  
Article
Validation of a Fixed Bed Reactor Model for Dimethyl Ether Synthesis Using Pilot-Scale Plant Data
by Daesung Song, Sung Yong Cho, Thang Toan Vu, Yen Hoang Phi Duong and Eunkyu Kim
Catalysts 2021, 11(12), 1522; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11121522 - 15 Dec 2021
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 4597
Abstract
The one-dimensional (1D) mathematical model of fixed bed reactor was developed for dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis at pilot-scale (capacity: 25–28 Nm3/h of syngas). The reaction rate, heat, and mass transfer equations were correlated with the effectiveness factor. The simulation results, including [...] Read more.
The one-dimensional (1D) mathematical model of fixed bed reactor was developed for dimethyl ether (DME) synthesis at pilot-scale (capacity: 25–28 Nm3/h of syngas). The reaction rate, heat, and mass transfer equations were correlated with the effectiveness factor. The simulation results, including the temperature profile, CO conversion, DME selectivity, and DME yield of the outlet, were validated with experimental data. The average error ratios were below 9.3%, 8.1%, 7.8%, and 3.5% for the temperature of the reactor, CO conversion, DME selectivity, and DME yield, respectively. The sensitivity analysis of flow rate, feed pressure, H2:CO ratio, and CO2 mole fraction was investigated to demonstrate the applicability of this model. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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16 pages, 4264 KiB  
Article
Process Intensification of Methane Production via Catalytic Hydrogenation in the Presence of Ni-CeO2/Cr2O3 Using a Micro-Channel Reactor
by Vut Tongnan, Youssef Ait-lahcen, Chuthamas Wongsartsai, Chalempol Khajonvittayakul, Nuchanart Siri-Nguan, Navadol Laosiripojana and Unalome Wetwatana Hartley
Catalysts 2021, 11(10), 1224; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11101224 - 11 Oct 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2130
Abstract
A slight amount of Cr2O3 segregation in 40 wt% NiO/Ce0.5Cr0.5O2 was presented at the surface. The best catalytic performance towards the reaction was achieved at 74% of CO2 conversion and 100% CH4 selectivity [...] Read more.
A slight amount of Cr2O3 segregation in 40 wt% NiO/Ce0.5Cr0.5O2 was presented at the surface. The best catalytic performance towards the reaction was achieved at 74% of CO2 conversion and 100% CH4 selectivity at 310 °C, the reactant (H2/CO2) feed molar ratio was 4, and the WHSV was 56,500 mlN·h−1·g−1cat. The mechanistic pathway was proposed through carbonates and formates as a mediator during CO2 and H2 interaction. Activation energy was estimated at 4.85 kJ/mol, when the orders of the reaction were ranging from 0.33 to 1.07 for nth-order, and 0.40 to 0.53 for mth-order. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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11 pages, 3943 KiB  
Article
Momentum Transfer in Short-Channel Structures of Hexagonal Channel Cross-Section Shape: Experiments vs. CFD
by Katarzyna Sindera, Marzena Iwaniszyn and Przemysław J. Jodłowski
Catalysts 2021, 11(9), 1036; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11091036 - 27 Aug 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2133
Abstract
Short-channel structures are promising catalyst carriers because it is easy to control the heat/mass transfer and fluid flow characteristics by changing their lengths. In this work, the flow resistance of hexagonal structures was investigated experimentally and numerically. The structure tested (6 mm long) [...] Read more.
Short-channel structures are promising catalyst carriers because it is easy to control the heat/mass transfer and fluid flow characteristics by changing their lengths. In this work, the flow resistance of hexagonal structures was investigated experimentally and numerically. The structure tested (6 mm long) was manufactured from AISI 316 steel using the selective laser melting technique. Due to some differences between theoretical approaches and practical results, two types of computational models were applied to analyze the pressure distribution in a short hexagonal duct. It was shown that although experimental results agree with some theoretical solutions, the channel wall thickness should not be omitted from the overall flow resistance. A comparison of short structures differing in channel length with widely used long monoliths was performed as well. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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12 pages, 4193 KiB  
Article
Dehydration of 2,3-Butanediol to 1,3-Butadiene and Methyl Ethyl Ketone: Modeling, Numerical Analysis and Validation Using Pilot-Scale Reactor Data
by Daesung Song, Sung-Yong Cho, Toan-Thang Vu, Hoang-Phi-Yen Duong and Eunkyu Kim
Catalysts 2021, 11(8), 999; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11080999 - 19 Aug 2021
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3596
Abstract
This work presents the numerical analysis and validation of a fixed bed reactor model for 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) dehydration. The 1D heterogeneous reactor model considering interfacial and intra-particle gradients, was simulated and numerical analysis of the model was conducted to understand the characteristics of [...] Read more.
This work presents the numerical analysis and validation of a fixed bed reactor model for 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BDO) dehydration. The 1D heterogeneous reactor model considering interfacial and intra-particle gradients, was simulated and numerical analysis of the model was conducted to understand the characteristics of the reactions in a catalyst along the reactor length. The model was also validated by comparing predicted performance data with pilot-scale plant data operated at 0.2 bar, 299–343 °C and 0.48–2.02 h−1 of weight hourly space velocity (WHSV). The model showed good agreement with the temperature profile, 2,3-BDO conversion and selectivity of target products. In addition, sensitivity analyses of the model were investigated by changing feed flow rate, feed composition, and inlet temperature. It was found that stable and efficient operation conditions are lower than 0.65 h−1 of WHSV and 330–340 °C of inlet temperature. Additionally, the reactor performance was not affected by 2,3-BDO feed concentration above 70%. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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12 pages, 1599 KiB  
Article
Degradation Kinetics and Mechanism of Polychloromethanes Reduction at Co-MoS2/Graphite Felt Electrode
by Mohammed Dauda, Muhammad H. Al-Malack, Chanbasha Basheer, Mohammad Nahid Siddiqui and Almaz Jalilov
Catalysts 2021, 11(8), 929; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11080929 - 30 Jul 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2042
Abstract
In this study, the electrochemical dechlorination of different polychloromethanes (CCl4, CHCl3, and CH2Cl2) on a Co-MoS2 graphite felt cathode was investigated. The Co-MoS2 electrocatalyst was prepared hydrothermally on a graphite felt support. The [...] Read more.
In this study, the electrochemical dechlorination of different polychloromethanes (CCl4, CHCl3, and CH2Cl2) on a Co-MoS2 graphite felt cathode was investigated. The Co-MoS2 electrocatalyst was prepared hydrothermally on a graphite felt support. The prepared catalyst’s characterization revealed the formation of hybridized CoSx and MoS2 nanosheets deposited on the pore structures of graphite. The influencing factor for the electro-dechlorination parameters such as applied current density, pH, and sample concentration on the dechlorination rate was optimized. A significant capacitive reduction current density peak of approximately 1 mA/cm2 was noted for CCl4 at a potential of −0.3 V (vs. AgCl). The dechlorination mechanism was attributed to the stepwise hydrogenolysis mechanism that involves the organochlorides bond cleavage by H* insertion. It was noted that the Co-MoS2 graphite felt electrode exhibited excellent catalytic activity toward the reduction of each of the chlorinated compounds with high selectivity toward the higher-order organochloride. Moreover, the dechlorination rates for each of the compounds were suited to the first-order kinetic model, and the estimated apparent rate constants showed the dechlorination in the following sequence CH2Cl2 (k3 = 9.1 × 10−5 s−1) < CHCl3 (k2 = 1.5 × 10−3 s−1) < CCl4 (k1 = 2.8 × 10−3 s−1). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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21 pages, 4410 KiB  
Article
Experimental and Theoretical Studies of Sonically Prepared Cu–Y, Cu–USY and Cu–ZSM-5 Catalysts for SCR deNOx
by Przemysław J. Jodłowski, Izabela Czekaj, Patrycja Stachurska, Łukasz Kuterasiński, Lucjan Chmielarz, Roman J. Jędrzejczyk, Piotr Jeleń, Maciej Sitarz, Sylwia Górecka, Michal Mazur and Izabela Kurzydym
Catalysts 2021, 11(7), 824; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11070824 - 7 Jul 2021
Cited by 13 | Viewed by 3631
Abstract
The objective of our study was to prepare Y-, USY- and ZSM-5-based catalysts by hydrothermal synthesis, followed by copper active-phase deposition by either conventional ion-exchange or ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, Raman, UV-Vis, monitoring ammonia and [...] Read more.
The objective of our study was to prepare Y-, USY- and ZSM-5-based catalysts by hydrothermal synthesis, followed by copper active-phase deposition by either conventional ion-exchange or ultrasonic irradiation. The resulting materials were characterized by XRD, BET, SEM, TEM, Raman, UV-Vis, monitoring ammonia and nitrogen oxide sorption by FT-IR and Diffuse Reflectance Infrared Fourier Transform Spectroscopy (DRIFTS). XRD data confirmed the purity and structure of the Y/USY or ZSM-5 zeolites. The nitrogen and ammonia sorption results indicated that the materials were highly porous and acidic. The metallic active phase was found in the form of cations in ion-exchanged zeolites and in the form of nanoparticle metal oxides in sonochemically prepared catalysts. The latter showed full activity and high stability in the SCR deNOx reaction. The faujasite-based catalysts were fully active at 200–400 °C, whereas the ZSM-5-based catalysts reached 100% activity at 400–500 °C. Our in situ DRIFTS experiments revealed that Cu–O(NO) and Cu–NH3 were intermediates, also indicating the role of Brønsted sites in the formation of NH4NO3. Furthermore, the results from our experimental in situ spectroscopic studies were compared with DFT models. Overall, our findings suggest two possible mechanisms for the deNOx reaction, depending on the method of catalyst preparation (i.e., conventional ion-exchange vs. ultrasonic irradiation). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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14 pages, 2194 KiB  
Article
Copper Tricomponent Catalysts Application for Hydrogen Production from Ethanol
by Łukasz Hamryszak, Maria Kulawska, Maria Madej-Lachowska, Michał Śliwa, Katarzyna Samson and Małgorzata Ruggiero-Mikołajczyk
Catalysts 2021, 11(5), 575; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11050575 - 30 Apr 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2162
Abstract
The application of copper-based catalysts in the production of pure hydrogen in the steam reforming of ethanol was performed. The tricomponent Cu/Zr catalysts with about 4 mass% addition of nickel, cobalt, or cerium have been prepared in our laboratory. The properties of obtained [...] Read more.
The application of copper-based catalysts in the production of pure hydrogen in the steam reforming of ethanol was performed. The tricomponent Cu/Zr catalysts with about 4 mass% addition of nickel, cobalt, or cerium have been prepared in our laboratory. The properties of obtained catalysts were compared with bimetallic Cu/Zr catalyst prepared and tested according to the same procedure. Catalytic tests were carried out in the continuous flow fixed–bed reactor in the wide temperature range of 433–593 K for initial molar ratio of ethanol to water equal to 1:3. Catalysts were characterized by XRD, TPR, CO2–TPD, and TPO methods. Cu/Zr/Ce catalyst proved to be the best; hydrogen yield reached the value of 400 L/(kgcat.∙h), selectivity towards carbon monoxide was below 0.5% and the one towards methane wasnot detected. Additions of Ni or Co did not bring significant improvement in activity. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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19 pages, 22225 KiB  
Article
Promotional Effect of Manganese on Selective Catalytic Reduction of NO by CO in the Presence of Excess O2 over M@La–Fe/AC (M = Mn, Ce) Catalyst
by Fatemeh Gholami, Zahra Gholami, Martin Tomas, Veronika Vavrunkova, Somayeh Mirzaei and Mohammadtaghi Vakili
Catalysts 2020, 10(11), 1322; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10111322 - 13 Nov 2020
Cited by 12 | Viewed by 3162
Abstract
The catalytic performance of a series of La-Fe/AC catalysts was studied for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by CO. With the increase in La content, the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio and amount of surface oxygen vacancies (SOV) in the catalysts [...] Read more.
The catalytic performance of a series of La-Fe/AC catalysts was studied for the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO by CO. With the increase in La content, the Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio and amount of surface oxygen vacancies (SOV) in the catalysts increased; thus the catalytic activity improved. Incorporating the promoters to La3-Fe1/active carbon (AC) catalyst could affect the catalyst activity by changing the electronic structure. The increase in Fe2+/Fe3+ ratio after the promoter addition is possibly due to the extra synergistic interaction of M (Mn and Ce) and Fe through the redox equilibrium of M3+ + Fe3+ ↔ M4+ + Fe2+. This phenomenon could have improved the redox cycle, enhanced the SOV formation, facilitated NO decomposition, and accelerated the CO-SCR process. The presence of O2 enhanced the formation of the C(O) complex and improved the activation of the metal site. Mn@La3-Fe1/AC catalyst revealed an excellent NO conversion of 93.8% at 400 °C in the presence of 10% oxygen. The high catalytic performance of MnOx and double exchange behavior of Mn3+ and Mn4+ can increase the number of SOV and improve the catalytic redox properties. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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14 pages, 2895 KiB  
Article
Solvent-Free Synthesis of Jasminaldehyde in a Fixed-Bed Flow Reactor over Mg-Al Mixed Oxide
by Zahra Gholami, Zdeněk Tišler, Pavla Vondrová, Romana Velvarská and Kamil Štěpánek
Catalysts 2020, 10(9), 1033; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal10091033 - 9 Sep 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3103
Abstract
In spite of the rapid developments in synthesis methodologies in different fields, the traditional methods are still used for the synthesis of organic compounds, and regardless of the type of chemistry, these reactions are typically performed in standardized glassware. The high-throughput chemical synthesis [...] Read more.
In spite of the rapid developments in synthesis methodologies in different fields, the traditional methods are still used for the synthesis of organic compounds, and regardless of the type of chemistry, these reactions are typically performed in standardized glassware. The high-throughput chemical synthesis of organic compounds such as fragrant molecules, with more economic benefits, is of interest to investigate and develop a process that is more economical and industrially favorable. In this research, the catalytic activity of Mg-Al catalyst derived from hydrotalcite-like precursors with the Mg/Al molar ratio of 3 was investigated for the solvent-free synthesis of jasminaldehyde via aldol condensation of benzaldehyde and heptanal. The reaction was carried out in a fixed-bed flow reactor, at 1 MPa, and at different temperatures. Both Brønsted and Lewis (O2 anions) base sites, and Lewis acid sites exist on the surface of the Mg-Al catalyst, which can improve the catalytic performance. Increasing the reaction temperature from 100 °C to 140 °C enhanced both heptanal conversion and selectivity to jasminaldehyde. After 78 h of reaction at 140 °C, the selectivity to jasminaldehyde reached 41% at the heptanal conversion 36%. Self-condensation of heptanal also resulted in the formation of 2-n-pentyl-2-n-nonenal. The presence of weak Lewis acid sites creates a positive charge on the carbonyl group of benzaldehyde, and makes it more prone to attack by the carbanion of heptanal. Heptanal, is an aliphatic aldehyde, with higher activity than benzaldehyde. Therefore, the possibility of activated heptanal reacting with other heptanal molecules is higher than its reaction with the positively charged benzaldehyde molecule, especially at a low molar ratio of benzaldehyde to heptanal. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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Review

Jump to: Research

20 pages, 9119 KiB  
Review
Will It Be Possible to Put into Practice the Mitigation of Ventilation Air Methane Emissions? Review on the State-of-the-Art and Emerging Materials and Technologies
by Anna Pawlaczyk-Kurek and Mikołaj Suwak
Catalysts 2021, 11(10), 1141; https://doi.org/10.3390/catal11101141 - 23 Sep 2021
Cited by 9 | Viewed by 3247
Abstract
The work refers to the important problem of methane emissions in relation to the ventilation air methane (VAM) emitted to the atmosphere. VAM is fuel that remains unused in most mines around the world due to the low content of the combustible component [...] Read more.
The work refers to the important problem of methane emissions in relation to the ventilation air methane (VAM) emitted to the atmosphere. VAM is fuel that remains unused in most mines around the world due to the low content of the combustible component in the mixture (0.1–1%). The aim of this article is to present the real problems posed by released VAM in its utilization such as variability of flow, methane concentration, or possible presence of gaseous and non-gaseous pollutants. The paper presents the existing technologies that are ready to be implemented or have a reliable potential to be implemented in the industry and those whose development will have strong influence on the effective reduction in VAM emissions. The methods discussed include enrichment, thermal, and catalytic as well as photocatalytic oxidation. The catalysts dedicated to VAM oxidation were reviewed. The literature studies show that currently developed technologies enable more and more efficient oxidation of VAM. The most technologically advanced implemented solutions are based on the thermal oxidation method in TFRR. Catalytic methods are still at the laboratory research phase, but have been intensively developed and have the potential to be implemented at process scale in the future. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Modern Catalytic Reactor: From Active Center to Application Tests)
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