Non-Linear Enthalpy-Entropy Correlation for Nitrogen Adsorption in Zeolites.

The thermodynamics of dinitrogen adsorption in faujasite-type zeolites, Na-Y, Ca-Y and Sr-Y, were investigated by means of variable-temperature infrared spectroscopy, a technique that affords determination of the standard adsorption enthalpy (ΔH°) and entropy (ΔS°) from an analysis of the IR spectra recorded over a range of temperatures. The results obtained, taken together with previously reported values for N2 adsorption on protonic zeolites, revealed a non-linear correlation between ΔH° and ΔS°. Implications of such a correlation for gas separation and purification by adsorption in porous solids are highlighted.

Probing Gas Adsorption in Zeolites by Variable-Temperature IR Spectroscopy: An Overview of Current Research.

The current state of the art in the application of variable-temperature IR (VTIR) spectroscopy to the study of (i) adsorption sites in zeolites, including dual cation sites; (ii) the structure of adsorption complexes and (iii) gas-solid interaction energy is reviewed. The main focus is placed on the potential use of zeolites for gas separation, purification and transport, but possible extension to the field of heterogeneous catalysis is also envisaged. A critical comparison with classical IR spectroscopy and adsorption calorimetry shows that the main merits of VTIR spectroscopy are (i) its ability to provide simultaneously the spectroscopic signature of the adsorption complex and the standard enthalpy change involved in the adsorption process; and (ii) the enhanced potential of VTIR to be site specific in favorable cases.

Measuring the Brønsted acid strength of zeolites--does it correlate with the O-H frequency shift probed by a weak base?

Brønsted-acid zeolites are currently being used as catalysts in a wide range of technological processes, spanning from the petrochemical industry to biomass upgrade, methanol to olefin conversion and the production of fine chemicals. For most of the involved chemical processes, acid strength is a key factor determining catalytic performance, and hence there is a need to evaluate it correctly. Based on simplicity, the magnitude of the red shift of the O-H stretching frequency, Δν(OH), when the Brønsted-acid hydroxyl group of protonic zeolites interacts with an adsorbed weak base (such as carbon monoxide or dinitrogen) is frequently used for ranking acid strength. Nevertheless, the enthalpy change, ΔH(0), involved in that hydrogen-bonding interaction should be a better indicator; and in fact Δν(OH) and ΔH(0) are often found to correlate among themselves, but, as shown herein, that is not always the case. We report on experimental determination of the interaction (at a low temperature) of carbon monoxide and dinitrogen with the protonic zeolites H-MCM-22 and H-MCM-56 (which have the MWW structure type) showing that the standard enthalpy of formation of OH···CO and OH···NN hydrogen-bonded complexes is distinctively smaller than the corresponding values reported in the literature for H-ZSM-5 and H-FER, and yet the corresponding Δν(OH) values are significantly larger for the zeolites having the MWW structure type (DFT calculations are also shown for H-MCM-22). These rather unexpected results should alert the reader to the risk of using the O-H frequency shift probed by an adsorbed weak base as a general indicator for ranking zeolite Brønsted acidity.

Ammonia-solvated ammonium species in the NH(4)-ZSM-5 zeolite.

Interaction of gaseous ammonia with a NH(4)-ZSM-5 zeolite (Si/Al=11.5) was studied by means of infrared (IR) spectroscopy both at constant ambient temperature and in the temperature range 373-573 K. H-bonding of NH(3) molecules to the NH(4) (+) species takes place. The interaction is weak and reversible, resembling a solvation process. Spectral evidence shows that only one N--H moiety is actually available, indicating that ammonium ions are tricoordinated to the zeolite inner surface. H-bonded NH(3) has an absorption band at 1712 cm(-1), which grows with increasing pressure in two steps: a monosolvated ammonium species is initially formed, evolving to a disolvated species for pressures above 5 mbar. Coordination of the second NH(3) molecule takes place at the already coordinated NH(3) molecule and not at the ammonium cation. From the changes in intensity of the 1712 cm(-1) band with changing temperature under a moderate NH(3) equilibrium pressure, the calculated standard enthalpy and entropy of the monosolvation reaction were ΔH(0)=-34(±5) kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(0)=-88(±10) J mol(-1) K(-1), respectively. The enthalpy of the second solvation step was calculated from the corresponding equilibrium constant under the assumption of (nearly) the same entropy change for both solvation processes. In agreement with the overall picture, this enthalpy change is small (-15 kJ mol(-1) at the most). Since in a previous work (M. Armandi, B. Bonelli, I. Bottero, C. O. Areán, E. Garrone, J. Phys. Chem. C 2010, 114, 6658) the thermodynamic features of the reaction between bare Brønsted acid sites and NH(3) yielding NH(4) (+) species were determined, the data reported herein allow the study of the coexistence of different species in the NH(3)/H-ZSM-5 zeolite system: 1) unreacted acid Brønsted sites, 2) bare ammonium ions, and 3) variously solvated ammonium species. The relevant description is particularly simple when the overall average coverage is one molecule per site.

Thermodynamics of hydrogen adsorption on metal-organic frameworks.

Interaction between adsorbed hydrogen and the coordinatively unsaturated Mg(2+) and Co(2+) cationic centres in Mg-MOF-74 and Co-MOF-74, respectively, was studied by means of variable-temperature infrared (VTIR) spectroscopy. Perturbation of the H(2) molecule by the cationic adsorbing centre renders the H--H stretching mode IR-active at 4088 and 4043 cm(-1) for Mg-MOF-74 and Co-MOF-74, respectively. Simultaneous measurement of integrated IR absorbance and hydrogen equilibrium pressure for spectra taken over the temperature range of 79-95 K allowed standard adsorption enthalpy and entropy to be determined. Mg-MOF-74 showed ΔH(0)=-9.4 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(0)=-120 J mol(-1) K(-1), whereas for Co-MOF-74 the corresponding values of ΔH(0)=-11.2 kJ mol(-1) and ΔS(0)=-130 J mol(-1) K(-1) were obtained. The observed positive correlation between standard adsorption enthalpy and entropy is discussed in the broader context of corresponding data for hydrogen adsorption on cation-exchanged zeolites, with a focus on the resulting implications for hydrogen storage and delivering.

Thermodynamics of carbon dioxide adsorption on the protonic zeolite H-ZSM-5.

Adsorption of carbon dioxide on H-ZSM-5 zeolite (Si:Al=11.5:1) was studied by means of variable-temperature FT-IR spectroscopy, in the temperature range of 310-365 K. The adsorbed CO(2) molecules interact with the zeolite Brønsted-acid OH groups bringing about a characteristic red-shift of the O-H stretching band from 3610 cm(-1) to 3480 cm(-1). Simultaneously, the nu(3) mode of adsorbed CO(2) is observed at 2345 cm(-1). From the variation of integrated intensity of the IR absorption bands at both 3610 and 2345 cm(-1), upon changing temperature (and CO(2) equilibrium pressure), the standard adsorption enthalpy of CO(2) on H-ZSM-5 is DeltaH(0)=-31.2(+/-1) kJ mol(-1) and the corresponding entropy change is DeltaS(0)=-140(+/-10) J mol(-1) K(-1). These results are discussed in the context of available data for carbon dioxide adsorption on other protonic, and also alkali-metal exchanged, zeolites.