• Journal of the Korean Institute of Gas
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.19-26
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• 2023

Hydrogen, a clean energy source free of COx emissions, is poised to replace fossil fuels, with its usage on the rise. Despite its high energy content per unit mass, hydrogen faces limitations in storage and transportation due to its low storage density and challenges in long-term storage. In contrast, ammonia offers a high storage capacity per unit volume and is relatively easy to liquefy, making it an attractive option for storing and transporting large volumes of hydrogen. While NH₃ decomposition is an endothermic reaction, achieving excellent low-temperature catalytic activity is essential for process efficiency and cost-effectiveness. The study examined the effects of different zeolite types (5A, NaY, ZSM5) on NH₃ decomposition activity, considering differences in pore structure, cations, and Si/Al-ratio. Notably, the 5A zeolite facilitated the high dispersion of Ni across the surface, inside pores, and within the structure. Its low Si/Al ratio contributed to abundant acidity, enhancing ammonia adsorption. Additionally, the presence of Na and Ca cations in the support created medium basic sites that improved N₂ desorption rates. As a result, among the prepared catalysts, the 15 wt%Ni/5A catalyst exhibited the highest NH₃ conversion and a high H₂ formation rate of 23.5 mmol/g_cat·min (30,000 mL/g_cat·h, 600 ℃). This performance was attributed to the strong metal-support interaction and the enhancement of N₂ desorption rates through the presence of medium basic sites.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.34 no.2
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• pp.126-130
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• 2023

In response to environmental demands, pyrolysis is one of the practical methods for obtaining reusable oils from waste plastics. However, the waste plastic pyrolysis oils (WPPO) are consumed as low-grade fuel oil due to their impurities. Thus, this study focused on the upgrading method to obtain naphtha catalytic cracking feedstocks from WPPO by the hydroprocessing, including hydrotreating and hydrocracking reaction. Especially, various transition metal sulfides supported catalysts were investigated as hydrotreating and hydrocracking catalysts. The catalytic performance was evaluated with a 250 ml-batch reactor at 370~400 ℃ and 6.0 MPa H₂. Sulfur-, nitrogen-, and chlorine-compounds in WPPO were well eliminated with nickel-molybdenum/alumina catalysts. The NiMo/ZSM-5 catalyst has the highest naphtha yield.

• Applied Chemistry for Engineering
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• v.17 no.3
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• pp.235-242
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• 2006

Liquid phase alkylation of biphenyl (BP) was studied over large pore zeolites. Selective formation of the least bulky products, 4,4'-diisopropylbiphenyl (4,4'-DIPB) occurred only in the isopropylation of BP over some large pore molecular sieves. H-mordenites (MOR) gave the highest selectivity among them. The dealumination of MOR enhanced catalytic activity and the selectivity of 4,4'-DIPB because of the decrease of coke-deposition. Non-selective catalysis occurs on external acid sites over MOR with the low $SiO_2/Al_2O_3$ ratio because severe coke-deposition deactivates the acid sites inside the pores by blocking pore openings. The selectivity of DIPB isomers was changed with reaction temperature. Selective formation of 4,4'-DIPB was observed at moderate temperatures such as $250^{\circ}C$, whereas the decrease of the selectivity of 4,4'-DIPB occurred at higher temperatures as $300^{\circ}C$. However, 4,4'-DIPB was almost exclusive isomer in the encapsulated DIPB isomers inside the pores even at high temperatures. These decreases of the selectivity of 4,4'-DIPB are due to the isomerization of 4,4'-DIPB on the external acid sites. Some 12-membered molecular sieves, such as SSZ-24, MAPO-5 (M:Mg, Zn, Si), SSZ-31, and ZSM-12, which have straight channels, gave 4,4'-DIPB with moderate to high selectivity; however; SSZ-55, SSZ-42, and MAPO-36 (M: Mg, Zn) gave lower selectivity because of cages in 12-membered one dimensional channels. Three dimensional H-Y and Beta zeolites also yield 4,4'-DIPB in low yield because of their wide circumstances for the isopropylation of BP. The increasing the size of alkylating agent enhanced the shape-selective alkylaiton even for the zeolites, such as UTD-1. The ethylation of BP to ethylbiphenyls (EBPs) and diethylbiphenyls (DEBPs) over MOR was non-selective. The ethylation of BP to EBPs was controlled kinetically. However, there was difference in reactivity of EBPs and DEBPs for their further ethylation. 4-EBP was ethylated preferentially among the isomers, although the formation of 4,4'-DEBP was less selective. The least bulky 4-EBP and 4,4'-DEBP have the highest reactivity among EBPs and DEBPs for the ethylation to polyethylbiphenyls (PEBPs). These results show that the environments of MOR pores are too loose for shape selective formation of the least bulky isomers, 4-EBP and 4,4'-DEBP in the ethylation of BP, and that MOR pores have enough space for the further ethylation of 4,4'-DEBP.