Center for Molecular Modeling - K. De Wispelaere

Insight into the effects of confined hydrocarbon species on the lifetime of methanol conversion catalysts

alexander — Tue, 15 Sep 2020 08:47:31 +0000

I. Lezcano-Gonzalez, E. Campbell, A.E.J. Hoffman, M. Bocus, I.V. Sazanovich, M. Towrie, M. Agote-Aran, E.K. Gibson, A. Greenaway, K. De Wispelaere, V. Van Speybroeck, A.M. Beale

Nature Materials

19, 1081–1087

2020

Abstract

The methanol-to-hydrocarbons reaction refers collectively to a series of important industrial catalytic processes to produce either olefins or gasoline. Mechanistically, methanol conversion proceeds through a ‘pool’ of hydrocarbon species. For the methanol-to-olefins process, these species can be delineated broadly into ‘desired’ lighter olefins and ‘undesired’ heavier fractions that cause deactivation in a matter of hours. The crux in further catalyst optimization is the ability to follow the formation of carbonaceous species during operation. Here, we report the combined results of an operando Kerr-gated Raman spectroscopic study with state-of-the-art operando molecular simulations, which allowed us to follow the formation of hydrocarbon species at various stages of methanol conversion. Polyenes are identified as crucial intermediates towards formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, with their fate determined largely by the zeolite topology. Notably, we provide the missing link between active and deactivating species, which allows us to propose potential design rules for future-generation catalysts.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41563-020-0800-y

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NatMater.pdf

Mechanistic insight into the framework methylation ofH-ZSM-5 for varying methanol loading and Si/Al ratiousing first principles molecular dynamics simulations

samuel — Mon, 13 Jul 2020 10:38:41 +0000

S. A. F. Nastase, P. Cnudde, L. Vanduyfhuys, K. De Wispelaere, V. Van Speybroeck, C.R.A. Catlow, A. J. Logsdail

ACS Catalysis

10, 15, 8904-8915

2020

Gold Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.0c01454

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A Supramolecular View on the Cooperative Role of Brønsted andLewis Acid Sites in Zeolites for Methanol Conversion

samuel — Wed, 11 Sep 2019 08:32:20 +0000

S. Bailleul, I. Yarulina, A.E.J. Hoffman, A. Dokania, E. Abou-Hamad, A. Dutta Chowdhury, G. Pieters, J. Hajek, K. De Wispelaere, M. Waroquier, J. Gascon, V. Van Speybroeck

JACS (Journal of the American Chemical Society)

141 (37), 14823-14842

2019

Abstract

A systematic molecular level and spectroscopic investigation is presented to show the cooperative role of Brønsted acid and Lewis acid sites in zeolites for the conversion of methanol. Extra-framework alkaline-earth metal containing species and aluminum species decrease the number of Brønsted acid sites, as protonated metal clusters are formed. A combined experimental and theoretical effort shows that postsynthetically modified ZSM-5 zeolites, by incorporation of extra-framework alkaline-earth metals or by demetalation with dealuminating agents, contain both mononuclear [MOH]+ and double protonated binuclear metal clusters [M(μ-OH)2M]2+ (M = Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, and HOAl). The metal in the extra-framework clusters has a Lewis acid character, which is confirmed experimentally and theoretically by IR spectra of adsorbed pyridine. The strength of the Lewis acid sites (Mg > Ca > Sr > Ba) was characterized by a blue shift of characteristic IR peaks, thus offering a tool to sample Lewis acidity experimentally. The incorporation of extra-framework Lewis acid sites has a substantial influence on the reactivity of propene and benzene methylations. Alkaline-earth Lewis acid sites yield increased benzene methylation barriers and destabilization of typical aromatic intermediates, whereas propene methylation routes are less affected. The effect on the catalytic function is especially induced by the double protonated binuclear species. Overall, the extra-framework metal clusters have a dual effect on the catalytic function. By reducing the number of Brønsted acid sites and suppressing typical catalytic reactions in which aromatics are involved, an optimal propene selectivity and increased lifetime for methanol conversion over zeolites is obtained. The combined experimental and theoretical approach gives a unique insight into the nature of the supramolecular zeolite catalyst for methanol conversion which can be meticulously tuned by subtle interplay of Brønsted and Lewis acid sites.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Gold Open Access

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/jacs.9b07484

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jacs.9b07484.pdf

Effect of zeolite topology and reactor configuration on the direct conversion of CO2 to light olefins and aromatics

kristof — Wed, 10 Apr 2019 08:17:48 +0000

A. Ramirez Galilea, A. Dutta Chowdhury, A. Dokania, P. Cnudde, M. Caglayan, I. Yarulina, E. Abou-Hamad, L. Gevers, S. Ould-Chikh, K. De Wispelaere, V. Van Speybroeck, J. Gascon

ACS Catalysis

9, 6320-6334

2019

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.9b01466

Collective action of water molecules in zeolite dealumination

kristof — Tue, 26 Mar 2019 14:48:15 +0000

M. Nielsen, A. Hafreager, R. Brogaard, K. De Wispelaere, H. Falsig, P. Beato, V. Van Speybroeck, S. Svelle

Catalysis Science & Technology

9 (14), 3721-3725

2019

Abstract

When exposed to steam, zeolite catalysts are irreversibly deactivated by loss of acidity and framework degradation caused by dealumination. Steaming typically occurs at elevated temperatures, making it challenging to investigate the mechanism with most approaches. Herein, we follow the dynamics of zeolite dealumination in situ, in the presence of a realistic loading of water molecules by means of enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations. H-SSZ-13 zeolite is chosen as a target system. Monte Carlo simulations predict a loading of more than 3 water molecules per unit cell at representative steaming conditions (450 °C, 1 bar steam). Our results show that a higher water loading lowers the free energy barrier of dealumination, as water molecules cooperate to facilitate hydrolysis of Al–O bonds. We find free energies of activation for dealumination that agree well with the available experimental measurements. Clearly, the use of enhanced sampling molecular dynamics yields a major step forward in the molecular level understanding of the dealumination; insight which is very hard to derive experimentally.

Gold Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/c9cy00624a

Ethene Dimerization on Zeolite-Hosted Ni ions: Reversible Mobilization of the Active Site

kristof — Wed, 20 Mar 2019 21:17:00 +0000

R. Brogaard, M. Kømurcu, M. Dyballa, A. Botan, V. Van Speybroeck, U. Olsbye, K. De Wispelaere

ACS Catalysis

9, 5645−5650

2019

DOI

https://doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.9b00721

Structure–performance descriptors and the role of Lewis acidity in the methanol-to-propylene process

wim — Tue, 26 Jun 2018 06:37:22 +0000

I. Yarulina, K. De Wispelaere, S. Bailleul, J. Goetze, M. Radersma, E. Abou-Hamad, I. Vollmer, M. Goesten, B. Mezari, E.J.M. Hensen, J. S. Martínez-Espín, M. Morten, S. Mitchell, J. Perez-Ramirez, U. Olsbye, B.M. Weckhuysen, V. Van Speybroeck, F. Kapteijn, J. Gascon

Nature Chemistry

10 (8), 804-812

2018

Abstract

The combination of well-defined acid sites, shape-selective properties and outstanding stability places zeolites among the most practically relevant heterogeneous catalysts. The development of structure–performance descriptors for processes that they catalyse has been a matter of intense debate, both in industry and academia, and the direct conversion of methanol to olefins is a prototypical system in which various catalytic functions contribute to the overall performance. Propylene selectivity and resistance to coking are the two most important parameters in developing new methanol-to-olefin catalysts. Here, we present a systematic investigation on the effect of acidity on the performance of the zeolite ‘ZSM-5’ for the production of propylene. Our results demonstrate that the isolation of Brønsted acid sites is key to the selective formation of propylene. Also, the introduction of Lewis acid sites prevents the formation of coke, hence drastically increasing catalyst lifetime.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41557-018-0081-0

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On the intrinsic dynamic nature of the rigid UiO-66 metal-organic framework

chiara — Wed, 06 Dec 2017 09:54:36 +0000

J. Hajek, C. Caratelli, R. Demuynck, K. De Wispelaere, L. Vanduyfhuys, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck

Chemical Science

9 (10), 2723-2732

2018

Abstract

UiO-66 is a showcase example of an extremely stable metal–organic framework, which maintains its structural integrity during activation processes such as linker exchange and dehydration. The framework can even accommodate a substantial number of defects without compromising its stability. These observations point to an intrinsic dynamic flexibility of the framework, related to changes in the coordination number of the zirconium atoms. Herein we follow the dynamics of the framework in situ, by means of enhanced sampling molecular dynamics simulations such as umbrella sampling, during an activation process, where the coordination number of the bridging hydroxyl groups capped in the inorganic Zr6(μ3-O)4(μ3-OH)4 brick is reduced from three to one. Such a reduction in the coordination number occurs during the dehydration process and in other processes where defects are formed. We observe a remarkable fast response of the system upon structural changes of the hydroxyl group. Internal deformation modes are detected, which point to linker decoordination and recoordination. Detached linkers may be stabilized by hydrogen bonds with hydroxyl groups of the inorganic brick, which gives evidence for an intrinsic dynamic acidity even in the absence of protic guest molecules. Our observations yield a major step forward in the understanding on the molecular level of activation processes realized experimentally but that is hard to track on a purely experimental basis.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Green Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1039/C7SC04947A

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How chain length and branching influence the alkene cracking reactivity on H-ZSM-5

kristof — Mon, 04 Dec 2017 16:58:44 +0000

P. Cnudde, K. De Wispelaere, L. Vanduyfhuys, R. Demuynck, J. Van der Mynsbrugge, M. Waroquier, V. Van Speybroeck

ACS Catalysis

8, 9579 − 9595

2018

Abstract

Catalytic alkene cracking on H-ZSM-5 involves a complex reaction network with many possible reaction routes and often elusive intermediates. Herein, advanced molecular dynamics simulations at 773 K, a typical cracking temperature, are performed to clarify the nature of the intermediates and to elucidate dominant cracking pathways at operating conditions. A series of C4-C8 alkene intermediates are investigated to evaluate the influence of chain length and degree of branching on their stability. Our simulations reveal that linear, secondary carbenium ions are relatively unstable, although their lifetime increases with carbon number. Tertiary carbenium ions, on the other hand, are shown to be very stable, irrespective of the chain length. Highly branched carbenium ions, though, tend to rapidly rearrange into more stable cationic species, either via cracking or isomerization reactions. Dominant cracking pathways were determined by combining these insights on carbenium ion stability with intrinsic free energy barriers for various octene β-scission reactions, determined via umbrella sampling simulations at operating temperature (773 K). Cracking modes A (3° → 3°) and B2 (3° → 2°) are expected to be dominant at operating conditions, whereas modes B1 (2° → 3°), C (2° → 2°), D2 (2° → 1°) and E2 (3° → 1°) are expected to be less important. All β-scission modes in which a transition state with primary carbocation character is involved have high intrinsic free energy barriers. Reactions starting from secondary carbenium ions will contribute less as these intermediates are short living at the high cracking temperature. Our results show the importance of simulations at operating conditions to properly evaluate the carbenium ion stability for β-scission reactions and to assess the mobility of all species in the pores of the zeolite.

Open Access version available at UGent repository

Gold Open Access

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/acscatal.8b01779

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Understanding zeolite-catalyzed benzene methylation reactions by methanol and dimethyl ether at operating conditions from first principle microkinetic modeling and experiments

kristof — Tue, 28 Nov 2017 15:22:45 +0000

K. De Wispelaere, J. S. Martínez-Espín, M. J. Hoffmann, S. Svelle, U. Olsbye, T. Bligaard

Catalysis Today

312, 35-43

2018

Abstract

In methanol-to-hydrocarbon chemistry, methanol and dimethyl ether (DME) can act as methylating agents. Therefore, we focus on the different reactivity of methanol and DME towards benzene methylation in H-ZSM-5 at operating conditions by combining first principles microkinetic modeling and experiments. Methylation reactions are known to follow either a concerted reaction path or a stepwise mechanism going through a framework-bound methoxide. By constructing a DFT based microkinetic model including the concerted and stepwise reactions, product formation rates can be calculated at conditions that closely mimic the experimentally applied conditions. Trends in measured rates are relatively well reproduced by our DFT based microkinetic model. We find that benzene methylation with DME is faster than with methanol but the difference decreases with increasing temperature. At low temperatures, the concerted mechanism dominates, however at higher temperatures and low pressures the mechanism shifts to the stepwise pathway. This transition occurs at lower temperatures for methanol than for DME, resulting in smaller reactivity differences between methanol and DME at high temperature. Our theory-experiment approach shows that the widely assumed rate law with zeroth and first order in oxygenate and hydrocarbon partial pressure is not generally applicable and depends on the applied temperature, pressure and feed composition.

DOI

http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cattod.2018.02.042

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