Work

Structural and Textural Properties of Al/Cu- and Al/Zn-Pillared Clays for Ethanol Conversion

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: A montmorillonite sample was pillared using mixed solutions of Al/Cu and Al/Zn as the pillaring agent. Al/Cu- and Al/Zn-pillared clays were applied in an ethanol conversion reaction. The catalysts prepared from montmorillonite were characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), 27Al nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MAS-NMR), and textural analysis by adsorption of N2. The synthesized materials showed basal spacing values around 1.6 nm for the Cu samples and 1.8 nm for the Zn samples. With the pillarization, textural properties such as specific area and micropore volume were optimized, and all samples showed an increase in micropore volume as well as a narrower pore distribution in the range of 0.77 nm. The insertion of 10% Zn in the pillaring solution produced a material with a greater amount of Al in the pentacoordinate position and also presented better results of conversion (80%) and selectivity to ethylene (81%) in the ethanol dehydration reaction.

Source: Crystals

DOI: 10.3390/cryst15030203

Authors: Lamara M. dos Santos, Felipe F. Barbosa, Lindiane Bieseki, Tiago P. Braga, Sibele B. C. Pergher

Institution: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte

Language: English

Topic: Clay minerals and soil interactions

Subfield: Biomaterials

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: gold

Estimated APC paid: $2,534

Funder: Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte