Engineering Papers⌕ Search

SEARCH · Engineering Papers

Results for “propylene”

Search indexed NASA NTRS and DOE OSTI research on propulsion, heat transfer, battery materials and energy systems. Follow report and document links to the original sources.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 163 records · Page 9

Elucidation of puzzling questions regarding the CrO x /Al 2 O 3 catalyst I. X-ray absorption spectroscopy aided identification of the nature of the chromium oxide species in the CrO x /Al 2 O 3 dehydrogenation catalyst system

The CATOFIN© process produces propylene from propane using a CrO x /Al 2 O 3 catalyst. Despite its use, there are still uncertainties surrounding the nature of Cr species formed during synthesis, regeneration, and aging. It has been observed that ppm levels of Cr 2 O 3 can be oxidized to Cr(VI) in air; however, when Cr 2 O 3 is in direct contact with Al 2 O 3 , Cr(VI) formation increased more than 100-fold. Here, to confirm physical contact between Cr 2 O 3 and Al 2 O 3 results in increased Cr(VI) formation, Cr 2 O 3 and Cr 2 O 3 /Al 2 O 3 samples were synthesized, calcined, and characterized. Catalytic activity measurements confirm propylene selectivity inversely tracks with Cr(VI). Wet chemical titration and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) quantified and determined the structure of the Cr(VI) species. FEFF X-ray absorption near edge structure simulations determined the potential sensitivity of the XAS to the presence of Al 3+ /Cr 3+ neighboring atoms. XAS correlated to FEFF simulations suggested that Al 3+ x Cr 3+ 2–x Cr 6+ 3 O 12 comprises a significant fraction of the Cr(VI) species formed.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Multi-scale imaging of high-pressure hydrogen induced damage in EPDM rubber using X-ray microcomputed tomography, helium-ion microscopy and transmission electron microscopy

Ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) rubber has gained increasing interest for use in hydrogen infrastructure due to its excellent sealing performance and low temperature properties. However, severe structural damage has been observed in EPDM O-rings after exposure to high-pressure hydrogen. The origination and propagation mechanisms of this damage are poorly understood. Here, to address this knowledge gap, multi-scale imaging leveraging X-ray micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), helium ion microscopy (HeIM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were used in this work to study a series of sulfur-cured ethylene propylene diene (EPDM) rubber materials with varying additives that were exposed to different hydrogen environments. Micro-CT captured the substantial structural damage due to hydrogen exposure; it revealed an association between zinc oxide (ZnO) particles and damage initiation. Further studies by TEM and scanning TEM with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) were focused on these particles at the micro-to nano-scale range. TEM indicated that hydrogen causes void formation at the interface between ZnO and the rubber matrix. HeIM enabled imaging of surface morphology of the material at high resolution pre- and post-hydrogen exposure while providing information on chemical composition and that cannot be captured by either micro-CT or TEM.

08 HYDROGEN↗

Pairing Ga/Al-Zeolites with tailored acidity as tandem catalysts for the conversion of alcohols to olefins

Zeolites are versatile catalysts owing to their tunable acidity where the active site(s) can be placed within the crystal framework or as extra-framework species in confined pores. A common approach to tailor Brønsted acidity is heteroatom exchange involving the replacement of framework aluminum with alternative elements. Introduction of heteroatoms often results in less acidic catalysts that can be used in tandem reactions for targeted reactive intermediates. Here, in this study, we prepare a series of three different zeolites with MWW, CHA, and MFI frameworks as aluminosilicates and gallosilicates to demonstrate their performance in alcohol dehydration reactions. The two reactions examined in this study are methanol conversion to dimethyl ether and ethanol conversion to ethylene. Our findings reveal that Ga-zeolites exhibit superior performance with Ga-MCM-22 (MWW) achieving nearly 100% alcohol conversion and selectivity to desired products at contact times that are significantly less than most dehydration catalysts reported in literature. The unique properties of Ga-zeolites are attributed to their reduced acid site strength via a direct (one-pot) synthesis that avoids conventional time-intensive, multi-step post-synthesis modifications of Al-zeolites. Here we demonstrate the use of Ga-zeolites as tandem catalysts when paired with a downstream Al-zeolite in a dual-bed reactor configuration to convert cheaper reagents (alcohols) upstream to more desired intermediates as feeds for downstream catalysts to produce light olefins. We demonstrate that dual beds using Ga-zeolite – Al-ZSM-5 (upstream–downstream) pairings outperform single bed configurations with Al-ZSM-5 or a physical mixture (Ga-/Al-zeolite) for methanol to hydrocarbons reactions, with notable improvements in catalyst lifetime and increased light olefins selectivity. Similarly, dual beds using Ga-zeolite – Al-SSZ-13 (upstream–downstream) pairings result in improved performance for ethanol to propylene reactions with significant increases in propylene selectivity (>20 %) compared to a conventional single bed configuration of Al-SSZ-13. Overall, this study offers a new perspective on the use of heteroatom-exchanged zeolite catalysts in tandem reactions as a means of capitalizing on their reduced acid site strength and suggests differences in the intrinsic acidity of zeolite crystal structures.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Can CO 2 -assisted alkane dehydrogenation lead to negative CO 2 emissions?

The utilization of light alkanes to generate value-added chemicals has gained significant attention due to the U.S. shale gas boom in recent decades. For example, after methane, ethane (3-16 vol.%) and propane (up to 5 vol.%) are the most abundant hydrocarbon species in shale gas deposits. Further, these inexpensive, widely available, but often underutilized, light alkanes can be used as a feedstock to produce olefins, which are among the most important petrochemical building blocks in chemical industry. Ethylene and propylene are used in the production of polymers (e.g., polyethylene, polypropylene) and epoxides (e.g., ethylene oxide, propylene oxide), as well as intermediates in the manufacture of numerous other chemicals (e.g., ethylene glycol, ethylbenzene, acetone, isopropanol, acrylonitrile).

03 NATURAL GAS↗

Kinetics of Direct Olefin Synthesis from Syngas over Mixed Beds of Zn–Zr Oxides and SAPO-34

A packed bed containing a physical mixture of both Zn–Zr mixed oxide catalyst and SAPO-34 converts syngas directly into a mixture of C 2 –C 5 olefins and paraffins. Specifically, the mixed oxide catalyst is responsible for intermediate oxygenate synthesis from syngas while the molecular sieve catalyzes olefin synthesis from the oxygenate intermediates. Kinetic measurements with cofed propylene over each catalyst independently confirm olefin hydrogenation activity over both components of the composite bed. The addition of either water or CO to the feed drops the activity of propylene hydrogenation over the Zn–Zr oxide. In sum, under reaction conditions of syngas feed and produced water, olefin hydrogenation predominantly occurs over the SAPO-34 catalyst, rather than over the catalyst responsible for hydrogenating CO into oxygenate intermediates. Here, a developed kinetic model consistent with this conclusion describes measurements at differing feed compositions, temperatures, space velocities, and bed catalyst mixing ratios. Technoeconomic analysis of the process indicates that the olefin-to-paraffin ratio is a key performance metric for commercial scale syngas conversion and highlights the importance of considering olefin hydrogenation rates over the molecular sieve component.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Effect of the Molecular Structure of Surface Vanadia on Activity and Regenerability of VO $x$ /In 2 O 3 Catalysts for CO 2 -Assisted Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

Our recent work has reported that higher propylene selectivity and improved stability can be achieved by combining redox-active VO $x$ and basic In 2 O 3 for CO 2 -assisted oxidative dehydrogenation of propane (CO 2 -ODHP). In the present work, we continued to explore the stability and regenerability of V/In catalysts. In particular, our interest lies in identifying the effect of mono- and polyvanadate on catalytic performance and regenerability. A V/In catalyst with an increased proportion of monovanadate was prepared using the Schlenk line under moisture-free conditions (V/In–S), while the fully polymerized vanadate catalyst was prepared through a regular impregnation (V/In) for comparison. The Schlenk-line-prepared catalyst, namely, V/In–S, not only exhibits a 17–30% enhanced propylene yield at high temperatures (500–540 °C) over V/In but also presents improved stability and regenerability with nearly 88% activity recovered after regeneration in O 2 . Detailed characterizations have been performed to reveal the catalyst structure–performance relationship, including chemisorption (NH 3 /CO 2 -temperature-programmed desorption, NH 3 /CO 2 -TPD), H 2 -temperature-programmed reduction (H 2 -TPR), and spectroscopic studies [Raman spectroscopy, UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (UV–vis DRS), near-ambient-pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (NAP-XPS), and high-sensitivity low-energy ion scattering (HS-LEIS)]. Characterization results demonstrate that compared with polyvanadates, monovanadates lead to strengthened interaction with In 2 O 3 and a more stabilized V/In surface and subsurface, as well as improved redox properties of VO $x$ . These advantages give rise to the observed enhancement in activity, stability, and regenerability. In conclusion, these findings advance the understanding of the relationship between the activity/stability and the molecular structure of surface oxide species (vanadia) and the interplay between acid–base interactions and redox properties of mixed metal-oxide catalysts for efficient CO 2 -ODHP.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Direct Correlation of the Salt-Reduced Diffusivities of Organic Solvents with the Solvent’s Mole Fraction

We report that lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide (LiTFSI) in organic solvents (especially propylene carbonate) has demonstrated extraordinary pseudocapacitive performance as an electrolyte in the supercapacitor configuration. However, the influence of the solvated ions on the diffusivity of the solvent molecules is yet to be understood. We examine the impact of LiTFSI on the diffusivity in five organic solvents: acetonitrile (ACN), tetrahydrofuran (THF), methanol (MeOH), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), and propylene carbonate (PC) using a combination of neutron scattering, conductivity measurements, and molecular dynamics simulations. The extent of the diffusivity reduction in the concentration regime of ≤1 M directly correlates with the solvent mole fraction at which the solvation shells around Li + ions are of similar size in all the solvents, resulting in a universal ~50% reduction in the solvent diffusivity. These results provide guidance for formulation of the new electrolytes to enhance the performance of energy storage devices.

conductivity↗

Rhodium-Catalyzed Oxidative Alkenylation of Anisole: Control of Regioselectivity

We report the conversion of anisole and olefins to alkenyl anisoles via a transition metal-catalyzed arene C–H activation and olefin insertion mechanism. The catalyst precursor, [(η 2 -C 2 H 4 ) 2 Rh(μ-OAc)] 2 , and the in situ oxidant Cu(OPiv) 2 (OPiv = pivalate) convert anisole and olefins (ethylene or propylene) to alkenyl anisoles. When ethylene is used as the olefin, the o/m/p ratio varies between approximately 1:3:1 (selective for 3-methoxystyrene) to 1:5:10 (selective for 4-methoxystyrene). When propylene is the olefin, the o/m/p regioselectivity varies between approximately 1:8:20 to 1:8.5:1. The o/m/p ratios depend on concentration of pivalic acid and olefin. For example, when using ethylene, at relatively high pivalic acid concentrations and low ethylene concentrations, the o/m/p regioselectivity is 1:3:1. Conversely, again for use of ethylene, at relatively low pivalic acid concentrations and high ethylene concentrations, the o/m/p regioselectivity is 1:5:10. Mechanistic studies of the conversion of anisole and olefins to alkenyl anisoles provides evidence that the regioselectivity is likely under Curtin-Hammett conditions.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Impacts of Solvent Washing on the Electrochemical Remediation of Commercial End-of-Life Cathodes

Changes to surface structure and chemistry occurring throughout the functional lifetime of lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) may impact the effectiveness of end-of-life rejuvenation methods. Solvent washing prior to electrochemical relithiation is shown to both increase relithiation efficacy and beneficially alter the interfacial chemistry of heavily degraded industrial cathode material. Four common solvents (acetone, diethyl carbonate, isopropyl alcohol, propylene carbonate) are employed to investigate the role of varying physicochemical solvent properties on the mechanism of capacity recovery. Electrochemical (dQ/dV, EIS), structural (XRD), and chemical (SPME-GC-MS) analysis techniques are employed to comprehensively analyze solvent-cathode interactions. Highly nucleophilic solvents (acetone, DEC) are found to reduce cathode charge-transfer impedance and enable stable impedance growth throughout subsequent cycling. The use of nucleophilic solvents under mechanically aggressive washing conditions may also enable the reintroduction of bulk lattice oxygen, thereby restoring anionic redox capacity. Further, the four solvents are found to selectively remove a subset of surface species from the aged cathode material, including residual electrolyte, additives, and electrolyte-additive reaction products, which are qualitatively analyzed. Surface species removal by each solvent is correlated with the electrochemical performance of the correspondingly washed cathode, highlighting the importance of an optimized washing protocol to effective remediation in the context of direct LIB recycling. For the material under study, the use of a simple acetone washing protocol prior to electrochemical relithiation enables up to 174% capacity recovery relative to unwashed/relithiated black mass.

ADVANCED PROPULSION SYSTEMS↗

Atomic Layer Deposition Overcoating Improves Catalyst Selectivity and Longevity in Propane Dehydrogenation

Propylene, a precursor for commodity chemicals and plastics, is produced by propane dehydrogenation (PDH). An increase in PDH yield via added catalyst activity, lifetime, or selectivity represents significant energy and economic savings. Using Pt dispersed on Al2O3 extrudate supports as a commercially relevant model system, we demonstrate that atomic layer deposition (ALD) metal oxide overcoats, used to tailor metal-active sites, can increase PDH yield and selectivity. We investigate the interplay of Pt loading, ALD overcoat thickness, and Al 2 O 3 support surface area on PDH activity, selectivity, and catalyst stability to show that applying a 6-8 A thick layer of Al 2 O 3 on low-surface area Al 2 O 3 supports of similar to 90 m 2 /g surface area yields the optimal combination of stability and activity, while increasing propylene selectivity from 91 to 96%. Increased stability upon steaming deactivation occurs because the Al 2 O 3 overcoat prevents the Pt nanoparticles from sintering. We speculate that the ALD overcoat selectively binds to the undercoordinated sites on the Pt nanoparticles, while leaving the more selective terrace sites available for dehydrogenation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Single-Atom Manganese-Based Catalysts for the Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Propane

Combinatorial screening of 150 supported metal oxide (manganese and additives) catalysts was carried out via a high-throughput synthesis platform and parallel reactors for the oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) of propane to propylene. Specifically, an organomanganese (0.05-2.5 Mn atoms/nm 2 ) complex was grafted on metal oxide supports (Al 2 O 3 , SiO 2 , TiO 2 , and ZrO 2 ) premodified with either Lewis acid (Al, Ti, Zn, and Zr) or redox-active (Cu, Cr, Ga Ni, V) additives at various surface coverages (25, 50, and 75%). Catalysts were characterized by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. Catalysts 0.05 Mn/V(50%)/Al 2 O 3 and 0.05 Mn/Ni(50%)/ZrO 2 showed the highest combined propane conversion and propylene selectivities (31/41% and 15/85%), with excellent stability at 500 degrees C for 25 h. The presence of Ni in Mn/Ni/ZrO 2 resulted in a 6-fold increase in turnover frequency (TOF) over the Mn/ZrO 2 . HRTEM identified single Mn atoms after 500 degrees C heat treatment. For the Mn/Ni/ZrO 2 system, Mn was incorporated into the support lattice due to the similar ionic radius of Mn 2+ and Zr 4+ , which was also enhanced by the presence of Ni. For the Mn/V/Al 2 O 3 system, highly active MnO was prevalent as observed by Raman. Both V and Mn contributed to an increase in mutual dispersion, but both species remained on the surface. Finally, it is proposed that the highly dispersed atom and interactions between Mn with either Ni or V are responsible for the ODH performance and stability.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Dynamic Behavior of Pt Multimetallic Alloys for Active and Stable Propane Dehydrogenation Catalysts

Improving the use of platinum in propane dehydrogenation catalysts is a crucial aspect to increasing the efficiency and sustainability of propylene production. A known and practiced strategy involves incorporating more abundant metals in supported platinum catalysts, increasing its activity and stability while decreasing the overall loading. Here, using colloidal techniques to control the size and composition of the active phase, we show that Pt/Cu alloy nanoparticles supported on alumina (Pt/Cu/Al 2 O 3 ) displayed elevated rates for propane dehydrogenation at low temperature compared to a monometallic Pt/Al 2 O 3 catalyst. We demonstrate that the enhanced catalytic activity is correlated with a higher surface Cu content and formation of a Pt-rich core and Cu-rich shell that isolates Pt sites and increases their intrinsic activity. However, rates declined on stream because of dynamic metal diffusion processes that led to a more uniform alloy structure. This transformation was only partially inhibited by adding excess hydrogen to the feed stream. Instead, cobalt was introduced to provide trimetallic Pt/Cu/Co catalysts with stabilized surface structure and stable activity and higher rates than the original Pt/Cu system. In conclusion, the structure–activity relationship insights in this work offer improved knowledge of propane dehydrogenation catalyst development featuring reduced Pt loadings and notable thermal stability for propylene production.

Alloys↗

Systematic Catalyst Variation for Improved Stereoselective Epoxide Polymerization: Subtle Modifications Resulting in Superior Efficiency

Isotactic poly(propylene oxide) (iPPO) is a semicrystalline polyether that has emerged as a high-strength, photodegradable material for marine applications. To improve the accessibility of i PPO, catalysts with higher activity and selectivity are required. Using rational catalyst design informed by computational insights, we developed a flexibly tethered, bimetallic chromium catalyst exhibiting high enantioselectivity ( k rel ∼ 100) and unprecedented activity (TOF ∼ 50,000 h −1 ) for propylene oxide (PO) polymerization. Mechanistic studies reveal that high enantioselectivity originates from increased steric bulk at the ortho position of the salicylimine moiety, which increases steric repulsion between the alkoxide chain end and the ligand in the disfavored transition state. Furthermore, introducing geminal dimethyl groups that rigidify the flexible tether between the two ligand moieties significantly enhances catalyst activity by destabilizing the resting state during polymerization. The catalyst remains active at loadings as low as 0.5 ppm, enabling the synthesis of colorless, tough i PPO.

Ren, Bai-Hao [Cornell Univ., Ithaca, NY (United St↗

Confining platinum clusters in indium-modified ZSM-5 zeolite to promote propane dehydrogenation

Designing highly active and stable catalytic sites is often challenging due to the complex synthesis procedure and the agglomeration of active sites during high-temperature reactions. Here, we report a facile two-step method to synthesize Pt clusters confined by In-modified ZSM-5 zeolite. In-situ characterization confirms that In is located at the extra-framework position of ZSM-5 as In + , and the Pt clusters are stabilized by the In-ZSM-5 zeolite. The resulting Pt clusters confined in In-ZSM-5 show excellent propane conversion, propylene selectivity, and catalytic stability, outperforming monometallic Pt, In, and bimetallic PtIn alloys. The incorporation of In + in ZSM-5 neutralizes Brønsted acid sites to inhibit side reactions, as well as tunes the electronic properties of Pt clusters to facilitate propane activation and propylene desorption. The strategy of combining precious metal clusters with metal cation-exchanged zeolites opens the avenue to develop stable heterogeneous catalysts for other reaction systems.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Structural trends in the dehydrogenation selectivity of palladium alloys

Alloying is well-known to improve the dehydrogenation selectivity of pure metals, but there remains considerable debate about the structural and electronic features of alloy surfaces that give rise to this behavior. To provide molecular-level insights into these effects, a series of Pd intermetallic alloy catalysts with Zn, Ga, In, Fe and Mn promoter elements was synthesized, and the structures were determined using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) and synchrotron X-ray diffraction (XRD). The alloys all showed propane dehydrogenation turnover rates 5–8 times higher than monometallic Pd and selectivity to propylene of over 90%. Moreover, among the synthesized alloys, Pd 3 M alloy structures were less olefin selective than PdM alloys which were, in turn, almost 100% selective to propylene. This selectivity improvement was interpreted by changes in the DFT-calculated binding energies and activation energies for C–C and C–H bond activation, which are ultimately influenced by perturbation of the most stable adsorption site and changes to the d-band density of states. Furthermore, transition state analysis showed that the C–C bond breaking reactions require 4-fold ensemble sites, which are suggested to be required for non-selective, alkane hydrogenolysis reactions. These sites, which are not present on alloys with PdM structures, could be formed in the Pd 3 M alloy through substitution of one M atom with Pd, and this effect is suggested to be partially responsible for their slightly lower selectivity.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Overcoming limitations in propanedehydrogenation by codesigning catalyst-membrane systems

Propylene production through propane dehydrogenation (PDH) is endothermic, and high temperatures required to achieve acceptable propane conversions lead to low selectivity and severe carbon-induced deactivation of conventional catalysts. We developed a catalyst-membrane system that removes the hydrogen by-product and can thus achieve propane conversions that exceed equilibrium limits. In this codesigned system, a silica/alumina (SiO 2 /Al 2 O 3 ) hollow-fiber hydrogen membrane was packed with a selective platinum-tin (Pt 1 Sn 1 /SiO 2 ) PDH catalyst on the tube side with hydrogen diffusing from the tube to the shell side. We demonstrate that the catalyst-membrane system can achieve propane conversions >140% of the nominal equilibrium conversion with a propylene selectivity >98% without deactivation of the system components. Here, we also show that by introducing oxygen on the shell side of the catalyst-membrane system, we can couple the endothermic PDH reaction on the tube side with exothermic hydrogen oxidation on the shell side. This coupling results in higher rates of hydrogen transport, leading to further enhancements in the propane conversion as well as desired thermoneutral system operation.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Zeolitic Imidazolate Framework Membranes: Novel Synthesis Methods and Progress Toward Industrial Use

In the last decade, zeolitic imidazolate frameworks (ZIFs) have been studied extensively for their potential as selective separation membranes. In this review, we highlight unique structural properties of ZIFs that allow them to achieve certain important separations, like that of propylene from propane, and summarize the state of the art in ZIF thin-film deposition on porous substrates and their modification by postsynthesis treatments. We also review the reported membrane performance for representative membrane synthesis approaches and attempt to rank the synthesis methods with respect to potential for scalability. To compare the dependence of membrane performance on membrane synthesis methods and operating conditions, we map out fluxes and separation factors of selected ZIF-8 membranes for propylene/propane separation. Finally, we provide future directions considering the importance of further improvements in scalability, cost effectiveness, and stable performance under industrially relevant conditions.

Chemistry↗

A Theoretical Model for Computing Freezing Point Depression of Lithium-Ion Battery Electrolytes

Reliable prediction of freezing point depression in liquid electrolytes will accelerate the development of improved Li-ion batteries which can operate in low temperature environments. In this work we establish a computational methodology to calculate activity coefficients and liquidus lines for battery-relevant liquid electrolytes. Electronic structure methods are used in conjuction with classical molecular dynamics simulations and theoretical expressions for Born solvation energy, ion-atmosphere effects from Debye-Hückel theory and solvent entropic effects. The framework uses no a priori knowledge beyond neat solvent properties and the concentration of salt. LiPF 6 in propylene carbonate (PC), LiPF 6 in dimethyl carbonate (DMC) and LiClO 4 in DMC are investigated up to 1 molal with accuracy better than 3 °C when compared to experimental freezing point measurements. Finally, we find that the difference in freezing point depression between the propylene carbonate-based electrolyte and the dimethyl carbonate electrolytes originates from the difference in the solvent dielectric constant.

25 ENERGY STORAGE↗