Mesoporous Silica MCM-41 from Fly Ash as a Support of Bimetallic Cu/Mn Catalysts for Toluene Combustion.

The main outcome of this research was to demonstrate the opportunity to obtain a stable and well-ordered structure of MCM-41 synthesized from fly ash. A series of bimetallic (Cu/Mn) catalysts supported at MCM-41 were prepared via grinding method and investigated in catalytic toluene combustion reaction to show the material's potential application. It was proved, that the Cu/Mn ratio had a crucial effect on the catalytic activity of prepared materials. The best catalytic performance was achieved with sample Cu/Mn(2.5/2.5), for which the temperature of 50% toluene conversion was found to be 300 °C. This value remains in line with the literature reports, for which comparable catalytic activity was attained for 3-fold higher metal loadings. Time-on-stream experiment proved the thermal stability of the investigated catalyst Cu/Mn(2.5/2.5). The obtained results bring a valuable background in the field of fly ash utilization, where fly ash-derived MCM-41 can be considered as efficient and stable support for dispersion of active phase for catalyst preparation.

Analysis of NH3 -TPD Profiles for CuSSZ-13 SCR Catalyst of Controlled Al Distribution - Complexity Resolved by First Principles Thermodynamics of NH3 Desorption, IR and EPR Insight into Cu Speciation*.

NH3 temperature-programmed desorption (NH3 -TPD) is frequently used for probing the nature of the active sites in CuSSZ-13 zeolite for selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NOx . Herein, we propose an interpretation of NH3 -TPD results, which takes into account the temperature-induced dynamics of NH3 interaction with the active centers. It is based on a comprehensive DFT/GGA+D and first-principles thermodynamic (FPT) modeling of NH3 adsorption on single Cu2+ , Cu+ , [CuOH]+ centers, dimeric [Cu-O-Cu]2+ , [Cu-O2 2- -Cu]2 species, segregated CuO nanocrystals and Brønsted acid sites (BAS). Theoretical TPD profiles are compared with the experimental data measured for samples of various Si/Al ratios and distribution of Al within the zeolite framework. Copper reduction, its relocation, followed by the intrazeolite olation/oxolation processes, which are concomitant with NH3 desorption, were revealed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and IR. DFT/FPT results show that the peaks in the desorption profiles cannot be assigned univocally to the particular Cu and BAS centers, since the observed low-, medium- and high-temperature desorption bands have contributions coming from several species, which dynamically change their speciation and redox states during NH3 -TPD experiment. Thus, a rigorous interpretation of the NH3 -TPD profiles of CuSSZ-13 in terms of the strength and concentration of the active centers of a particular type is problematic. Nonetheless, useful connections for molecular interpretation of TPD profiles can be established between the individual component peaks and the corresponding ensembles of the adsorption centers.