Novel CNT Supported Molybdenum Catalyst for Detection of L-Cysteine in Its Natural Environment

In this study, novel carbon nanotube-supported Mo (Mo/CNT) catalysts were prepared with the sodium borohydride reduction method for the detection of L-cysteine (L-Cys, L-C). Mo/CNT catalysts were characterized with scanning electron microscopy with elemental dispersion X-ray (EDX-SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), UV-vis diffuse reflectance spectrometry (UV-vis), temperature-programmed reduction (TPR), temperature programmed oxidation (TPO), and temperature-programmed desorption (TPD) techniques. The results of these advanced surface characterization techniques revealed that the catalysts were prepared successfully. Electrochemical measurements were employed to construct a voltammetric L-C sensor based on Mo/CNT catalyst by voltammetric techniques such as cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). Further measurements were carried out with electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). Mo/CNT/GCE exhibited excellent performance for L-C detection with a linear response in the range of 0–150 µM, with a current sensitivity of 200 mA/μM cm2 (0.0142 μA/μM), the lowest detection limit of 0.25 μM, and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N = 3). Interference studies showed that the Mo/CNT/GCE electrode was not affected by D-glucose, uric acid, L-tyrosine, and L-trytophane, commonly interfering organic structures. Natural sample analysis was also accomplished with acetyl L-C. Mo/CNT catalyst is a promising material as a sensor for L-C detection.

High Dispersion of CeO2 on CeO2/MgO Prepared under Dry Conditions and Its Improved Redox Properties

Suppressing the usage of rare-earth elements is crucial for making the catalysts sustainable. Preparing CeO2 nanoparticles is a common technique to reduce CeO2 consumption, but such nanoparticles are prone to sinter or react with the supports when subjected to heat treatments. This study demonstrated that stable CeO2 nanoparticles were deposited on MgO by the simple impregnation method. When CeO2/MgO was prepared under the dry atmosphere, the CeO2 nanoparticles remained ~3 nm in diameter even after being heated at 800 °C, which is much smaller than ~5 nm of CeO2/MgO prepared under ambient air. Temperature-programmed reduction, temperature-programmed oxidation, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and in situ X-ray diffraction studies showed that CeO2/MgO exhibited higher oxygen mobility when prepared under the dry atmosphere. Dry reforming reaction demonstrated that CeO2/MgO prepared under the dry atmosphere exhibited higher activity than that prepared under ambient air and pure CeO2.

Light-off Investigation of Oxymethylene Ether (OME) Considering the Presence of the Exhaust Components Heptane, Carbon, and Nitrogen Monoxide

Synthetic fuels and fuel blends like OMEs can contribute to tank-to-wheel CO2 emission savings. At the same time, it is known that these fuels have a lower exhaust temperature compared to conventional diesel. This effect has major impact on the exhaust after-treatment system, particularly in cold start conditions. This paper investigates the light-off behavior of exhaust gases containing OMEs by temperature-programmed oxidation experiments using a state-of-the-art oxidation catalyst. The main side product of catalytic oxidation of OMEs between 100 °C and the oxidation temperature T50, which was around 160 °C, was shown to be formaldehyde. While alkane oxidation, in this case heptane, was little influenced by OME oxidation, the oxidation temperature T50 of CO increases by more than 10 °C by OME addition. Nitrogen monoxide impeded the oxidation of OME in a similar way to the other components investigated. Due to the amount of FA produced and its toxicity, it could be concluded that it is necessary to heat up exhaust after-treatment systems of OME diesel engines even faster than conventional diesel exhaust after-treatment systems. The relatively high reactivity of OME on oxidation catalyst can be used by active thermal management approaches.

An Inelastic Neutron Scattering Investigation of the Temporal Behaviour of the Hydrocarbonaceous Overlayer of a Prototype Fischer-Tropsch to Olefins Catalyst

A dual sodium and sulfur promoted haematite, representative of a candidate Fischer-Tropsch to olefins (FTO) catalyst, is prepared and contrasted with the performance of an unpromoted hematite sample in the ambient pressure CO hydrogenation reaction at 623 K as a function of time-on-stream (0–24 h). In-situ post-reaction temperature-programmed oxidation measurements show the carbon evolutionary phase of the catalyst conditioning process to be retarded for the FTO catalyst. Ex-situ inelastic neutron scattering measurements show the promoters perturb the formation of a previously described hydrocarbonaceous overlayer. Specifically, whilst the sp3 hybridised C–H modes of the hydrocarbonaceous overlayer are almost unaffected by the additives, the formation of the overlayer’s sp2 hybridised C–H modes are noticeably impeded. The results are discussed in terms of the Na/S promoters disturbing the formation of an ordered hydrocarbonaceous overlayer that is thought to constrain the supply of adsorbed hydrogen atoms, which favours the formation of unsaturated hydrocarbons associated with the FTO process.

Effect of the Ni/Al Ratio on the Performance of NiAl2O4 Spinel-Based Catalysts for Supercritical Methylcyclohexane Catalytic Cracking

Supercritical methylcyclohexane cracking of NiAl2O4 spinel-based catalysts with varying Ni/Al deficiencies was investigated. Thus, catalysts with Ni content of 10–50 wt.% were prepared by typical co-precipitation methods. The calcined, reduced, and spent catalysts were characterized by X-ray diffraction, O2 temperature-programmed oxidation, NH3 temperature-programmed desorption, N2 physisorption, O2 chemisorption, scanning and transmission electron microscopy, and X-ray fluorescence. The performance and physicochemical properties of the reference stoichiometric Ni3Al7 catalyst differed significantly from those of the other catalysts. Indeed, the Ni-deficient Ni1Al9 catalyst led to the formation of large Ni particles (diameter: 20 nm) and abundant strong acid sites, without spinel structure formation, owing to the excess Al. These acted with sufficient environment and structure to form the coke precursor nickel carbide, resulting in a pressure drop within 17 min. On the other hand, the additional NiO linked to the NiAl2O4 spinel structure of the Al-deficient Ni5Al5 catalyst formed small crystals (10 nm), owing to the excess Ni, and displayed improved Ni dispersion. Thus, dehydrogenation proceeded effectively, thereby improving the resistance to coke formation. This catalytic behavior further demonstrated the remarkable activity and stability of this catalyst under mild conditions (450 °C and 4 Mpa).

Characteristics of High Surface Area Molybdenum Nitride and Its Activity for the Catalytic Decomposition of Ammonia

High surface area (>170 m2 g−1) molybdenum nitride was prepared by the temperature-programmed nitridation of α-MoO3 with pure ammonia. The process was optimized by adjusting the experimental variables: the reaction temperature, heating rate, and molar flow rate of ammonia. The physicochemical properties of the as-formed molybdenum nitride were characterized by X-ray diffraction, N2 sorption, transmission electron microscopy, temperature-programmed oxidation/reduction, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Of the experimental variables, the nitridation temperature was found to be the most critical parameter determining the surface area of the molybdenum nitride. When the prepared molybdenum nitride was exposed to air, the specific surface area rapidly decreased because of the partial oxidation of molybdenum nitride to molybdenum oxynitride. However, the surface area recovered to 90% the initial value after H2 treatment. The catalyst with the highest degree of nitridation showed the best catalytic activity, superior to that of unmodified α-MoO3, for the decomposition of ammonia because of its high surface area.

Direct Amide Synthesis over Composite Magnetic Catalysts in a Continuous Flow Reactor

Composite magnetic catalysts containing different amounts of sulfated titania (33–50 wt %) have been prepared by means of high energy ball-milling between TiO2 and NiFe2O4. The catalysts have been characterized with N2 adsorption/desorption isotherms, XRD, temperature programmed oxidation (TPO) and vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM). The catalytic activity was measured in the reaction of aniline and 4-phenylbutyric acid in the continuous mode under conventional and inductive heating. The effect of catalyst loading in the reactor on reaction and deactivation has been studied, indicating the catalyst containing 50 wt % titania gave the highest reaction rate and least deactivation. The operation in a flow reactor under inductive heating increased the amide yield by 25% as compared to conventional heating. The initial reaction rate decreased by 30% after a period of 15 h on stream. The catalyst activity was fully restored after a treatment with an air flow at 400 °C.

Temperature-Programmed Oxidation Experiments on Typical Bituminous Coal Under Inert Conditions

In this study, an experimental investigation was presented on the oxidation behaviors of bituminous coal for different inert gases (N2 and CO2) at different concentrations (oxygen concentration indexes 21%, 18.4%, 15.8%, and 13.1%) using a temperature-programmed experimental device. The purpose of this research was to examine the oxidation patterns of bituminous coal under different inert conditions. The results showed that: (1) the oxidative heating of the coal underwent two stages: an initial slow heating stage and a fast heating stage. The injection of both inert gases would result in a delay in the crossing point temperature (CPT) of the coal, but the injection of N2 resulted in greater delays in the CPT of the coal; (2) the injection of both N2 and CO2 inhibited the concentrations of CO and alkane/olefin gases produced from the oxidative heating of the coal, with CO2 displaying higher inhibition efficiencies than that of N2; (3) Under a non-inerting environment, the C2H4 and C2H6 generation temperatures were 110 °C and 100 °C. Under an inerting environment, when N2 was injected, the higher the N2 concentration, the higher the initial C2H4 and C2H6 generation temperatures; when CO2 was injected, the higher the CO2 concentration, the lower the initial C2H4 and C2H6 generation temperatures; and (4) under a non-inerting environment, the C3H8 generation temperature was 90 °C; and when an inert gas was injected, there was a hysteresis in the C3H8 generation temperature for all concentrations. The above research results can be used to predict the spontaneous combustion of residual coal in an inert environment and prevent fires.

Enhancement of CO2 Reforming of CH4 Reaction Using Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg1−xCex4+O and Ni/Mg1−xCex4+O Catalysts

Catalysts Ni/Mg1−xCex4+O and Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg1−xCex4+O were developed using the co-precipitation–impregnation methods. Catalyst characterization took place using XRD, H2-TPR, XRF, XPS, Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), TGA TEM, and FE-SEM. Testing the catalysts for the dry reforming of CH4 took place at temperatures of 700–900 °C. Findings from this study revealed a higher CH4 and CO2 conversion using the tri-metallic Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg1−xCex4+O catalyst in comparison with Ni monometallic systems in the whole temperature ranges. The catalyst Ni,Pd,Pt/Mg0.85Ce4+0.15O also reported an elevated activity level (CH4; 78%, and CO2; 90%) and an outstanding stability. Carbon deposition on spent catalysts was analyzed using TEM and Temperature programmed oxidation-mass spectroscopy (TPO-MS) following 200 h under an oxygen stream. The TEM and TPO-MS analysis results indicated a better anti-coking activity of the reduced catalyst along with a minimal concentration of platinum and palladium metals.