Catalyst degradation characterisation

Figure 3.53 shows the volume of CO produced, and the turnover number of the rhenium catalyst, as a function of the charge passed. Over 14 hours of electrolysis the Re catalyst underwent 300 catalytic cycles without loss of activity and showed no degradation, as seen by isolation and characterisation... 

An example of a much faster catalyst, equally well characterised is depicted in Figure 16.11. This catalyst gives thousands of turnovers of cis-2-pentene in a few minutes at 25 °C. The electron withdrawing fluoroalkoxides make the metal centre nucleophilic and the steric bulk prevents dimer formation or other degradation reactions. 

Some general applications of TG-FTIR are evolved gas analysis, identification of polymeric materials, additive analysis, determination of residual solvents, degradation of polymers, sulphur components from oil shale and rubber, contaminants in catalysts, hydrocarbons in source rock, nitrogen species from waste oil, aldehydes in wood and lignins, nicotine in tobacco and related products, moisture in pharmaceuticals, characterisation of minerals and coal, determination of kinetic parameters and solid fuel analysis. 

Karlsson [12] in his review article on recycled polyolefins discusses the characterisation of recycled polymers in terms of polymer degradation, polymer composition and the presence of low MW compounds (degradation products of matrix and additives, initiator or catalyst residues, solvents and so on) using spectroscopic (UV, IR, nuclear magnetic... 

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