Enhanced Hydrothermal Stability of γ-Al2O3 Catalyst Supports with Alkyl Phosphonate CoatingsClick to copy article linkArticle link copied!
- Tim Van CleveTim Van CleveDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, JSCBB D125, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United StatesMore by Tim Van Cleve
- Devon UnderhillDevon UnderhillDepartment of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, JSCBB D125, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United StatesMore by Devon Underhill
- Mariana Veiga RodriguesMariana Veiga RodriguesSchool of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United StatesInstituto de Química de Araraquara (UNESP), Rua Prof. Francisco Degni 55, 14800-900 Araraquara, SP BrazilMore by Mariana Veiga Rodrigues
- Carsten SieversCarsten SieversSchool of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332, United StatesMore by Carsten Sievers
- J. Will Medlin*J. Will Medlin*E-mail: [email protected]Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, JSCBB D125, 3415 Colorado Avenue, Boulder, Colorado 80303, United StatesMore by J. Will Medlin
Abstract

In this study, monolayers formed from organophosphonic acids were employed to stabilize porous γ-Al2O3, both as a single component and as a support for Pt nanoparticle catalysts, during exposure to hydrothermal conditions. To provide a baseline, structural changes of uncoated γ-Al2O3 catalysts under model aqueous phase reforming conditions (liquid water at 200 °C and autogenic pressure) were examined over the course of 20 h. These changes were characterized by X-ray diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, N2 physisorption, and IR spectroscopy. It was demonstrated that γ-alumina was rapidly converted into a hydrated boehmite (AlOOH) phase with significantly decreased surface area. Deposition of alkyl phosphonate groups on γ-alumina drastically inhibited the formation of boehmite, thereby maintaining its high specific surface area over 20 h of treatment. 27Al MAS NMR spectra demonstrated that hydrothermal stability increased with alkyl tail length despite lower P coverages. Although the inhibition of boehmite formation by the phosphonic acids was attributed primarily to the formation of Al2O3–POx bonds, it was found that use of longer-chain octadecylphosphonic acids led to the most pronounced effect. Phosphonate coatings on Pt/γ-Al2O3 improved stability without adversely affecting the rate of a model reaction, catalytic hydrogenation of 1-hexene.
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