Novel and Versatile Cobalt Azobenzene-Based Metal-Organic Framework as Hydrogen Adsorbent.

A novel URJC-3 material based on cobalt and 5,5'-(diazene-1,2-diyl)diisophthalate ligand, containing Lewis acid and basic sites, has been synthesized under solvothermal conditions. Compound URJC-3, with polyhedral morphology, crystallizes in the tetragonal and P43 21 2 space group, exhibiting a three-dimensional structure with small channels along a and b axes. This material was fully characterized, and its hydrogen adsorption properties were estimated for a wide range of temperatures (77-298 K) and pressures (1-170 bar). The hydrogen storage capacity of URJC-3 is quite high in relation to its moderate surface area, which is probably due to the confinement effect of hydrogen molecules inside its reduced pores of 6 Å, which is close the ionic radii of hydrogen molecules. The storage capacity of this material is not only higher than that of active carbon and purified single-walled carbon nanotubes, but also surpasses the gravimetric hydrogen uptake of most MOF materials.

Intensified-Fenton process for the treatment of phenol aqueous solutions.

An intensified-Fenton process for the treatment of phenol aqueous solutions has been studied as a continuous catalytic wet hydrogen peroxide oxidation system. This process consists of coupling the catalytic activity of a heterogeneous Fenton-like catalyst with the homogeneous contribution of its dissolved iron species. Agglomerated mesoporous SBA-15 silica-supported iron oxide (Fe2O3/SBA-15) material was used as heterogeneous catalyst. The influence of the reaction temperature and the initial hydrogen peroxide dosages was studied in order to minimize the operation cost of the process. The catalytic performance of the process was assessed in terms of total organic carbon (TOC) and hydrogen peroxide conversions. Likewise, the stability of the solid Fenton-like catalyst was also evaluated in terms of the dissolved iron species. The increase of the reaction temperature enhanced the TOC conversion and reduced the iron leaching from the heterogeneous catalyst. These results were related to the degradation of oxalic acid as responsible for iron extraction by formation of soluble stable iron complexes into the aqueous medium. Finally, the use of a moderate hydrogen peroxide concentration (2.6 g/L) and milder temperatures (80-120 °C) has led to remarkable results of TOC and phenol reductions as well as oxidant efficiency through the intensified-Fenton process.

Ordered mesoporous carbons as highly active catalysts for hydrogen production by CH(4) decomposition.

Ordered mesoporous carbons have been applied, for the first time, as catalysts for hydrogen production via methane decomposition, showing higher and more stable activity than commercial carbonaceous catalysts.