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Remote Activation Catalysis: Interparticle Hydrogen Spillover-Assisted Cumene Synthesis from Propane and Benzene
Kenta Suzuki1, Shingo Hasegawa1, Ryota Osuga2
1Department of Chemistry and Life Science, Yokohama National University, Yokohama, 240-8501, Japan.
Hydrogen spillover between platinum and tungsten oxide catalysts enhances cumene synthesis. This process remotely activates acidity, doubling catalytic activity for benzene alkylation with propylene.
Area of Science:
- Catalysis
- Materials Science
- Chemical Engineering
Background:
- Hydrogen spillover, especially interparticle, can activate remote surface acidity.
- Direct synthesis of cumene from benzene and propane is a key industrial process.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the use of physically mixed Pt/Al2O3 and WO3/ZrO2 catalysts for direct cumene synthesis.
- To understand the mechanism of hydrogen spillover and its effect on catalytic activity.
Main Methods:
- Physically mixing Pt/Al2O3 and WO3/ZrO2 catalysts.
- Conducting direct synthesis of cumene from benzene and propane at 300 °C.
- Utilizing UV-vis-NIR, XPS, and in situ FTIR spectroscopy for analysis.
Main Results:
- Pt/Al2O3 alone produced only propylene via propane dehydrogenation.
- WO3/ZrO2 (18 wt.% WO3) showed high benzene conversion (≈5.0%) and cumene selectivity (≈87.5%).
- Hydrogen spillover from Pt/Al2O3 to WO3/ZrO2 created Brønsted acid sites, doubling alkylation activity.
Conclusions:
- Interparticle hydrogen spillover is effective in enhancing cumene synthesis.
- The spillover mechanism involves hydrogen transfer to WO3/ZrO2, forming active Brønsted acid sites.
- This approach offers a promising route for efficient direct cumene production.
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