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Synthesis and Catalytic Testing of Lewis Acidic Nano-MFI Zeolites to Overcome Diffusion Limitations

Joshi, Rutuja U.
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-4640-4428
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1511871858531586

Abstract Details

2017, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Chemical Engineering.
Zeolites play an important role in catalysis owing to their exceptional advantages such as tunable structure and properties. Increasingly, zeolites have been synthesized with Lewis acidic catalytic sites, greatly expanding the catalytic capabilities of these materials. A common drawback in zeolite catalyzed reactions is mass transfer limitations in conversion of large molecules. Mass transfer limitations result in a reduced apparent catalytic activity since the reactants or products have restricted movement inside the micropores. Although several strategies can be used to mitigate the effects of diffusion, we will demonstrate that this limitation can be overcome through synthesizing nano-sized zeolites to reduce the diffusion path and thereby limit the effect of diffusion of reactants and products within the pores. This project aims to synthesize Lewis acidic nano zeolites (<100 nm) with MFI topology through using low temperature and hydroxide conditions. The crystallization process is monitored using DLS to determine the effect of including a heteroatom (tin) into the zeolite framework. The catalyst is characterized using several analysis techniques such as powder X-ray diffraction (PXRD), nitrogen physisorption, Dynamic Light Scattering (DLS), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Diffuse Reflectance UV-Vis Spectroscopy (DRUVS), and Diffuse Reflectance Fourier Transform IR spectroscopy (DRIFTS). The catalytic activity of the novel material is evaluated using epoxide ring opening reaction in alcohols as a probe reaction. The bulky epoxide substrate such as epoxyhexane when reacted with methanol achieved a higher conversion with nano zeolite material compared to its conventional analogue. The more precise engineering of zeolites with reduced crystal size will allow us to find an efficient route to overcome diffusion limitations of bulky reactants.
Nicholas Brunelli (Advisor)
44 p.
Chemical Engineering
nano zeolites, diffusion limitations, MFI

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Joshi, R. U. (2017). Synthesis and Catalytic Testing of Lewis Acidic Nano-MFI Zeolites to Overcome Diffusion Limitations [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1511871858531586

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Joshi, Rutuja. Synthesis and Catalytic Testing of Lewis Acidic Nano-MFI Zeolites to Overcome Diffusion Limitations. 2017. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1511871858531586.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Joshi, Rutuja. "Synthesis and Catalytic Testing of Lewis Acidic Nano-MFI Zeolites to Overcome Diffusion Limitations." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2017. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1511871858531586

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

osu1511871858531586
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© 2017, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.