ZeBiolApp · Developing Structure-Reactivity Relationships of the Zeolite Catalysed Bio-alcohol Mediated Aromatic Alkylation Processes via a Multi-Spectroscopic Investigative Approach
Horizon 2020 — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2016-06-01 → 2018-05-31
- EU contribution
- €177,599
- Participants
- 1
- Scheme
- MSCA-IF-EF-ST
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Results in brief
Developing Structure-Reactivity Relationships of the Zeolite Catalysed Bio-alcohol Mediated Aromatic Alkylation Processes via a Multi-Spectroscopic Investigative Approach
Chemical industries should reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. In the petrochemical industry, the current state-of-the-art of zeolite-catalyzed aromatic alkylation process involves olefins as an alkylating agent, which is still mostly derived from fossil fuels. In order to reduce the dependency on the depleted fossil-resources, the chemical industry must utilize bioethanol, instead of ethylene. However, the mechanism of bioethanol mediated zeolite catalyzed ethylation of benzene is highly controversial as well as ambiguous. Therefore, the primary scientific objectives of this project were to elucidate the reaction mechanism, as well as to establish the structure-reactivity relationships of zeolite catalyzed hydrocarbon conversion processes. In this project, we have developed a complementary multi-modal spectroscopic approach, through employing a combination of the advanced solid-state magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy with operando UV-visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy coupled to on-line mass spectrometry, to elucidate the reaction mechanism of the two industrially operational hydrocarbon conversions over commercially relevant and ‘industrial grade’ zeolite catalysts. These reactions are (i) bio-ethanol mediated ethylation of benzene and (ii) methyl acetate-to-hydrocarbon reaction. As the research and innovation to reduce the dependency of fossil fuel is a top-priority for European Union within Horizon 2020, we believe that the accumulated knowledge from this project will be useful for the development of superior and upgraded catalyst materials for the conversion of renewables.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
A top priority of the European Union under the Horizon 2020 protocol is that chemical industries must reduce their dependence on fossil fuels. In the petro-chemical industry, aromatic alkylation processes using olefins as alkylating agents and zeolites or inorganic Lewis acids as catalysts are still exclusively depending on fossil fuels. Other limitations of these processes include corrosion, toxicity, contamination and undesired side reactions. Hence, I will develop new zeolite-based catalytic technologies for the alkylation of aromatics using bio-alcohols (derived from biomass) as alkylating agents. Here I hypothesize that MWW type medium pore zeolites and MTW/MOR type large pore zeolites are ideal catalysts for aromatic alkylation using short and long chain alcohols, respectively. In this regard, the specific project aims are: (1) evaluation of these specific medium and large pore zeolites for the production of alkylated aromatics with high selectivity and purity in bio-alcohol mediated aromatic alkylation processes, (2) proper process optimization by tuning all reaction parameters in order to achieve excellent selectivity at reasonably higher reactivity and (3) elucidation of the catalytic cycle and deactivation mechanism and establishment of the structure-property-function relationships through the application of advanced in situ/operando (micro-)spectroscopic techniques. Altogether, the acquired knowledge from this research project will help the chemical community to design future catalyst materials for bio-alcohol mediated aromatic alkylation processes. This project will be carried out within Inorganic Chemistry and Catalysis (ICC) group at Utrecht University under the supervision of Prof. Bert M. Weckhuysen. This will allow me to develop my knowledge and skills in the fields of heterogeneous catalysis and in situ spectroscopy in order to steer my future as an independent researcher in the direction of heterogeneous catalysis for organic syntheses.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITEIT UTRECHT · UtrechtCoordinatorNetherlands
Links
Data: CORDIS, © European Union