Nonthermal Plasma Induced Fabrication of Solid Acid Catalysts for Glycerol Dehydration to Acrolein

Lu Liu,Xiaofei Philip Ye

doi:10.3390/catal11030391

Abstract

The feasibility of fabricating better solid acid catalysts using nonthermal plasma (NTP) technology for biobased acrolein production is demonstrated. NTP discharge exposure was integrated in catalyst fabrication in air or argon atmosphere. The fabricated catalysts were characterized by Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area analysis, temperature-programmed desorption of ammonia, X-ray powder diffraction and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of pyridine adsorption, in comparison to regularly prepared catalysts as a control. Further, kinetic results collected via glycerol dehydration experiments were compared, and improvement in acrolein selectivity was displayed when the catalyst was fabricated in the argon NTP, but not in the air NTP. Possible mechanisms for the improvement were also discussed.

Highlights

Acid Catalysts for GlycerolThe application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) for the surface modification of materials to render desirable properties have been well documented, such as the improvement of adhesion strength of coating, the generation of ultrafine particles, the deposition of catalytically active species, and the reduction of metal-catalysts, etc. [1,2]
Alumina supported LaMOx (M denotes one of Co, Mn, or Ni) films were developed by radio-frequency NTP spray deposition, and different catalytic activities were reported as compared to the regularly prepared ones [5]
In our previous study using a regular catalyst, we found no difference in X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns between the fresh catalyst and spent catalyst in that the deposited coke was amorphous and would not change the crystalline structure of the catalyst on which it was deposited

Summary

Introduction

Acid Catalysts for GlycerolThe application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) for the surface modification of materials to render desirable properties have been well documented, such as the improvement of adhesion strength of coating, the generation of ultrafine particles, the deposition of catalytically active species, and the reduction of metal-catalysts, etc. [1,2]. The application of nonthermal plasma (NTP) for the surface modification of materials to render desirable properties have been well documented, such as the improvement of adhesion strength of coating, the generation of ultrafine particles, the deposition of catalytically active species, and the reduction of metal-catalysts, etc. Halverson and Cocke [4] prepared Ru/Al2 O3 with highly dispersed metallic particles by impregnation on NTP-grown alumina in an oxygen and water vapor environment. Alumina supported LaMOx (M denotes one of Co, Mn, or Ni) films were developed by radio-frequency NTP spray deposition, and different catalytic activities were reported as compared to the regularly prepared ones [5]. Vissokov [6] found that NTP could help produce ultradispersed catalysts due to changes in the nanostructural and physicochemical properties; as a result, 15–20% higher activity was achieved. Better dispersion of the active compound on a catalyst support leads to better catalysts [1]

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