A comparative IR characterization of acidic sites on HY zeolite by pyridine and CO probes with silica-alumina and γ-alumina references.

Using IR spectroscopy, three different surface states of HY zeolite were probed by successive adsorption of CO at 143 K followed by evacuation and pyridine adsorption at 523 K: HY zeolite [1] without strong Lewis acid sites (LAS); [2] after high temperature (873 K) evacuation to convert Brønsted acid sites (BAS) to strong LAS; and [3] after water re-adsorption on HY zeolite [2] to recover BAS from LAS. The original surface of HY zeolite [1] seemed to be recovered on HY zeolite [3] after high temperature evacuation and water treatment by CO adsorption, while a part of generated LAS on HY zeolite [2] seemed irreversible on HY zeolite [3] to HY zeolite [1] by pyridine adsorption. To clarify this discrepancy, re-examination of the IR spectra of adsorbed CO and pyridine on γ-alumina and silica-alumina after similar treatments to those on HY zeolite was conducted. Based on the results of CO adsorption on γ-alumina and silica-alumina, the presence of extra-framework aluminium sites on HY zeolite [1] was confirmed. High temperature evacuation of HY zeolite [1] formed very strong LAS, a part of which was irreversible to BAS by water re-adsorption at room temperature. The irreversible sites on HY zeolite [3] were assigned to non-acidic OH groups attributed to silica-alumina. The non-acidic OH groups on HY zeolite [3], which were BAS on HY zeolite [1], hydrogen-bonded to pyridine to show IR spectra similar to those adsorbed on LAS. Thus, LAS on HY zeolite [3] seemed irreversible by pyridine adsorption after water re-adsorption. On the other hand, CO adsorbed on non-acidic OH groups showed a band at only slightly lower frequency (2160 cm(-1)) than that of BAS (2178 cm(-1)), resulting in overlapps and ignoring their presence. Thus, CO adsorption seemed to show that complete recovery of LAS to BAS occurred.

Direct observation of unstable intermediate species in the reaction of trans-2-butene on ferrierite zeolite by picosecond infrared laser spectroscopy.

The reaction dynamics of trans-2-butene adsorbed to acidic hydroxyl groups on the surface of ferrierite zeolite is examined by time-resolved spectroscopy using a tunable infrared picosecond pulse laser system. The transient absorption spectra measured by a two-color pump-probe technique at 188-243 K reveal bleaching and hot bands of the OD stretching mode 2 ps after excitation. This vibrationally excited state relaxes within 20 ps at 188 K, while the bleaching band includes a long-lifetime component that lasts for more than 100 ps at 243 K. Thus, the OD (isotope-exchanged hydroxy groups) stretching band does not entirely recover in this period and is mirrored by an analogous weakening of the CH bending band of the adsorbed trans-2-butene. Simultaneously, three new bands in CH stretching region were observed at 3045, 3095, and 3130 cm(-1). This result suggests the presence of a short-lived intermediate formed by reaction between the acidic hydroxyl groups and adsorbed trans-2-butene.

Detailed process of adsorption of alkanes and alkenes on zeolites.

The adsorption of alkanes and alkenes on zeolites is investigated by comparing the adsorption characteristics for three types of zeolite: ferrierite, ZSM-5, and mordenite. The activation energy for the diffusion of propane and n-butane on ferrierite and the heat of adsorption of C(2)-C(4) alkanes and alkenes on zeolites and silica are estimated based on Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and the diffusion processes in the micropores are elucidated by comparing the results with previously reported activation energies for n-butene diffusion. The adsorption of 1-butene on mordenite is also examined. The structure and process of experimentally observable adsorption is found to differ depending on the type of zeolite and adsorbing molecule, reflecting differences in the sizes of molecules and pores. This differing behavior is utilized to interpret the elementary adsorption processes of alkanes and alkenes on zeolites.

An ethoxy intermediate in ethanol dehydration on Brønsted acid sites in zeolite.

Acid-catalyzed ethanol dehydration on zeolite is shown to proceed via a covalent ethoxy group (C2H5O) as a stable intermediate, which was directly observed by IR spectroscopy.