Ethane dehydroaromatization with CO2 using LDH-Derived mixed oxides of Ga, Zn, and Mg over HZSM-5 zeolite

• Grant number: 24/12434-0
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor
• Start date: November 25, 2024
• End date: November 24, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Engineering - Chemical Engineering - Chemical Technology
• Principal Investigator: Elisabete Moreira Assaf
• Grantee: Gabriel Liscia Catuzo
• Supervisor: Jeffrey T Miller
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Purdue University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/10582-9 - Tandem reactions of CO2 reduction and ethane dehydroaromatization over bifunctional zeolite/layered double hydroxide catalysts, BP.PD

Abstract

This proposal for international collaboration aims to advance the development and optimization of LDH-derived mixed oxide catalysts for the hydrogenation of ethane to BTX compounds, using CO2 as a moderate oxidant. Preliminary studies focusing on the conversion of ethane to ethylene have demonstrated that Ga atoms, compared to V and Mn, are significantly more active in the oxidative dehydrogenation stage. Consequently, gallium has been selected as a component of a tandem composite consisting of mixed oxides of Ga, Zn, and Mg derived from LDH, which will be anchored on a ZSM-5 zeolite. This strategy aims to boost the production of BTX. However, some challenges in this research include, for instance, the determination of the optimal weight ratio of mixed oxides and zeolite components to maximize BTX yield and control product distribution. The interaction between these oxides and the zeolite framework is crucial, as it influences overall catalytic activity and catalyst stability under reaction conditions. Zn species, particularly in the form of (Zn-O-Zn)2+, are crucial in the catalytic process but also pose challenges related to deactivation due to sintering and volatilization under high-temperature, reductive conditions. Furthermore, the reductive behavior of gallium atoms over different synthesis methods and the influence of different Ga species are still under debate. Within this context, the expertise and resources available in Prof. Dr. Miller's group will be essential for conducting various characterization techniques to examine the effect of the catalyst's active phases and identifying the ideal conditions for preparing the catalysts, aiming to enhance catalytic activity with high selectivity towards aromatics.