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Kiani, Daniyal

Publications and source records attributed to Kiani, Daniyal.

Practical Considerations for Understanding Surface Reaction Mechanisms Involved in Heterogeneous Catalysis

Acquiring useful knowledge about the active site(s) of a catalyst, nature of reactant–catalyst interactions, nature of reactive intermediates, rate-determining step, reaction rate orders that affect various process parameters, and reaction mechanism as a whole is exceedingly challenging. This is especially true in the case of heterogeneous catalysts due to the complexity of the nature of surface active sites and their nonstatic behavior. Here, we present our perspective on differentiating between various surface reaction mechanisms in light of pioneering studies by leaders in the field, with the aim of clarifying some of the confusion associated with these complex mechanisms, especially the Eley–Rideal mechanism. Using bibliometric analysis, we identify and discuss the following four reactions that most commonly invoke the Eley– Rideal mechanism: H 2 activation, CO oxidation, esterification of alcohols by acids, and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) of NO x with NH 3 . Our analysis of studies utilizing well-suited experimental and computational methodologies for differentiating surface reaction mechanisms suggests that the above-mentioned four reactions do not occur via the Eley–Rideal mechanism. Instead, each reaction occurs via the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism with nonidealities present. Lastly, we highlight practical considerations regarding select experimental (characterization methods and differential kinetics) and computational modeling that we believe can provide useful insights to accurately discern between the various possible reaction mechanisms in heterogeneous catalysis.

37 INORGANIC, ORGANIC, PHYSICAL, AND ANALYTICAL CH↗

Molecular structure and catalytic promotional effect of Mn on supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts for oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction

The structure and promotional effect of Mn in supported Mn-Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts for the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction has been debated for a longtime in the literature. In the current investigation, with the aid of multiple in-situ characterization studies, we show that the freshly calcined supported 1.2Mn-5Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalyst possesses crystalline Na 2 WO 4 , Mn 2 O 3 and SiO 2 (cristobalite phase) along with surface MnO x and Na-WO x sites at low temperature and oxidizing environments. Under the OCM reaction environment (T>800°C), the crystalline Na 2 WO 4 phase melts and Mn 2 O 3 phase reduces. In contrast, the surface MnO x and Na-WO x sites exhibit excellent thermal and chemical stability. Exposure of the 1.2Mn-5Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalyst to the OCM reaction environment redisperses the molten Na 2 WO 4 phase on the SiO 2 support to form new surface WO x sites. Interestingly, the stable MnO x species interacts with both molten Na 2 WO 4 phase and surface Na-WO x sites during OCM reaction. Controlled transient kinetic experiments in TAP and detailed steady state OCM fixed-bed reaction studies reveal the role and promotional effect of Mn in the 1.2Mn-5Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalyst. The W-oxides (both molten Na 2 WO 4 and surface Na-WO x sites) are the active sites for the catalytic OCM reaction and the MnO x species only function as promoters. The promotion of MnO x strongly depends on the gas phase O 2 partial pressure and the MnO x species act as mediators for oxygen exchange between the gas phase molecular O 2 and catalyst lattice oxygen. In conclusion, the temperature dependent MnO x promotion reveals that the MnO x species selectively promote the molten Na 2 WO 4 phase at lower reaction temperature and the surface Na-WO x sites at higher temperature.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

New Mechanistic and Reaction Pathway Insights for Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM) over Supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 Catalysts

Abstract The complex structure of the catalytic active phase, and surface‐gas reaction networks have hindered understanding of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction mechanism by supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts. The present study demonstrates, with the aid of in situ Raman spectroscopy and chemical probe (H 2 ‐TPR, TAP and steady‐state kinetics) experiments, that the long speculated crystalline Na 2 WO 4 active phase is unstable and melts under OCM reaction conditions, partially transforming to thermally stable surface Na‐WO x sites. Kinetic analysis via temporal analysis of products (TAP) and steady‐state OCM reaction studies demonstrate that ( i ) surface Na‐WO x sites are responsible for selectively activating CH 4 to C 2 H x and over‐oxidizing CH y to CO and ( ii ) molten Na 2 WO 4 phase is mainly responsible for over‐oxidation of CH 4 to CO 2 and also assists in oxidative dehydrogenation of C 2 H 6 to C 2 H 4 . These new insights reveal the nature of catalytic active sites and resolve the OCM reaction mechanism over supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts.

Sourav, Sagar↗

New Mechanistic and Reaction Pathway Insights for Oxidative Coupling of Methane (OCM) over Supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 Catalysts

Abstract The complex structure of the catalytic active phase, and surface‐gas reaction networks have hindered understanding of the oxidative coupling of methane (OCM) reaction mechanism by supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts. The present study demonstrates, with the aid of in situ Raman spectroscopy and chemical probe (H 2 ‐TPR, TAP and steady‐state kinetics) experiments, that the long speculated crystalline Na 2 WO 4 active phase is unstable and melts under OCM reaction conditions, partially transforming to thermally stable surface Na‐WO x sites. Kinetic analysis via temporal analysis of products (TAP) and steady‐state OCM reaction studies demonstrate that ( i ) surface Na‐WO x sites are responsible for selectively activating CH 4 to C 2 H x and over‐oxidizing CH y to CO and ( ii ) molten Na 2 WO 4 phase is mainly responsible for over‐oxidation of CH 4 to CO 2 and also assists in oxidative dehydrogenation of C 2 H 6 to C 2 H 4 . These new insights reveal the nature of catalytic active sites and resolve the OCM reaction mechanism over supported Na 2 WO 4 /SiO 2 catalysts.

Sourav, Sagar↗