A. Nollet

The effect of confined space on the growth of naphthalenic species in an H-SSZ-13 catalyst: a molecular modeling study

K. Hemelsoet, A. Nollet, M. Vandichel, D. Lesthaeghe, V. Van Speybroeck, M. Waroquier
ChemCatChem
1 (3), 373-378
2009
A1

Abstract 

Methylation reactions of naphthalenic species over the acidic microporous zeolite with chabazite topology have been investigated by means of two-layered ab initio computations. Large cluster results combined with van der Waals contributions provide thermodynamic and kinetic results of successive methylation steps. The growth of fused bicyclic species is important as these can act as hydrocarbon pool species within the methanol-to-olefin (MTO) process, but ultimately leads to the deactivation of the catalyst. The influence of the confined space of the zeolite pore on the resulting transition state or product shape selectivity is investigated in detail.

Theoretical simulations elucidate the role of naphthalenic species during methanol conversion within H-SAPO-34

K. Hemelsoet, A. Nollet, V. Van Speybroeck, M. Waroquier
Chemistry - A European Journal
17(3) 9083–9093
2011
A1

Abstract 

The role of naphthalenic species during the methanol-to-olefins (MTO) process in a silicoaluminophosphate zeolitic material exhibiting the chabazite topology (H-SAPO-34) has been studied from first principles. These species could either act as active olefin-eliminating compounds or as precursors for deactivating species. Results incorporating van der Waals contributions for finite large clusters point out that successive methylation steps of naphthalenic compounds are feasible. The calculated intrinsic activation barrier is relatively independent of the number of methyl groups already attached on the aromatic compound and is approximately 140 kJ mol(-1) . The influence of the composition of the catalyst and hence the acidic strength on the intrinsic chemical kinetics was investigated in detail through comparison with the isostructural high-silicon material. Apparent chemical kinetics, starting from adsorbed methanol on the acid site, were also computed. The initiation steps of the side-chain route starting from a trimethylated naphthalenium ion were also examined. The actual side-chain methylation exhibits a high barrier and hence this mechanism involving methylated naphthalenes is not expected to be an active ethene-eliminating route in H-SAPO-34.

Copyright © 2011 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.

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