Search

A series of 1, 3, and 5% Bi‐doped vanadium phosphate catalyst catalysts were prepared via sesquihydrate route using direct ultrasound method and were denoted as VPSB1, VPSB3, and VPSB5, respectively. These catalysts were synthesized solely using a direct ultrasound technique and calcined in a n‐butane/air mixture. This study showed that catalyst synthesis time can be drastically reduced to only 2 hr compared to conventional 32–48 hr. All Bi‐doped catalysts exhibited a well‐crystallized (VO)2P2O7 phase. In addition, two V5+ phases, that is, β‐VOPO4 and αII‐VOPO4, were observed leading to an increase in the average oxidation state of vanadium. All catalysts showed V2p3/2 at approx. 517 eV, giving the vanadium oxidation state at approx. 4.3–4.6. Field‐emission scanning electron microscopy micrographs showed the secondary structure consisting of thin and small plate‐like crystal clusters due to the cavitation effect of ultrasound waves. VPSB5 showed the highest amount of oxygen species removed associated with the V5+ and V4+ species in temperature‐programmed reduction in H2 analyses. TheX‐ray absorption near edge structure (XANES) measurement showed the occurrence of vanadium oxide reductions in hydrogen gas flow, indicating the presence of V4+ and V5+ species. Higher average valence states of V5+, indicating more V5+ phases, were present. The addition of bismuth has increased the activity and selectivity to maleic anhydride. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper studies the effect of addition of Zn and ultrasound-assisted co-precipitation on Cu-Mn oxide catalysts for the oxidation of CO. Cu-Mn-Zn oxide catalysts were synthesised at different molar ratios and characterised and evaluated for CO oxidation performance. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) imaging showed that the morphologies and textural properties of the catalysts were markedly affected by the different synthesis conditions, notably the formation of different geometries of various sizes depending on the Zn loading used. Characterisation results also revealed that both the addition of Zn and the use of ultrasound-assisted synthesis improved the dispersion of metal constituents in the mixed oxide phase, evident from the lower peak intensity and smaller crystallite sizes and more dispersed particles as seen in SEM imaging. Gas adsorption results revealed that Zn loading influences the porosity and adsorption capability of the catalyst. Zn-loaded samples exhibited a H3 hysteresis loop, which suggests the presence of slit-like pores. Temperature-programmed reduction results indicate that sonicated samples exhibit improved reduction capabilities which can increase overall catalytic activity. Results showed that Cu/Mn/Zn = 2:1:0.5 displayed the highest activity, showing 76.0% and 82.8% for CO and SO2 at 130 °C, respectively. This work has confirmed that the addition of 0.5 molar ratio of Zn and the presence of ultrasonic treatment during the catalyst synthesis have improved the overall catalytic performance, while further addition in Zn concentrations resulted in an adverse effect on the catalyst. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]