Catalytic-site deactivation

The elements of range in value from 0 to 1 and are the ratio of the reformer kinetic constants at time on stream t to the values at start of cycle. At any time on stream t, the deactivation rate constant matrix K(a) is determined by modifying the start-of-cycle K with a. From the catalytic chemistry, it is known that each reaction class—dehydrogenation, isomerization, ring closure, and cracking—takes place on a different combination of metal and acid sites (see Section II). As the catalyst ages, the catalytic sites deactivate at... 

Chien, J. C. W. Kuo, C. I. Magnesium chloride supported high-mileage catalysts for olefin polymerization. X. Effect of hydrogen and catalytic site deactivation. J. Polym. ScL, Part A Polym. Chem. 1986, 24, 2707-2727. 

The components in catalysts called promoters lack significant catalytic activity tliemselves, but tliey improve a catalyst by making it more active, selective, or stable. A chemical promoter is used in minute amounts (e.g., parts per million) and affects tlie chemistry of tlie catalysis by influencing or being part of tlie catalytic sites. A textural (structural) promoter, on tlie otlier hand, is used in massive amounts and usually plays a role such as stabilization of tlie catalyst, for instance, by reducing tlie tendency of tlie porous material to collapse or sinter and lose internal surface area, which is a mechanism of deactivation. 

The typical industrial catalyst has both microscopic and macroscopic regions with different compositions and stmctures the surfaces of industrial catalysts are much more complex than those of the single crystals of metal investigated in ultrahigh vacuum experiments. Because surfaces of industrial catalysts are very difficult to characterize precisely and catalytic properties are sensitive to small stmctural details, it is usually not possible to identify the specific combinations of atoms on a surface, called catalytic sites or active sites, that are responsible for catalysis. Experiments with catalyst poisons, substances that bond strongly with catalyst surfaces and deactivate them, have shown that the catalytic sites are usually a small fraction of the catalyst surface. Most models of catalytic sites rest on rather shaky foundations. 

The presence of other functional groups ia an acetylenic molecule frequendy does not affect partial hydrogenation because many groups such as olefins are less strongly adsorbed on the catalytic site. Supported palladium catalysts deactivated with lead (such as the Liadlar catalyst), sulfur, or quinoline have been used for hydrogenation of acetylenic compound to (predominantiy) cis-olefins. 

The chemical mechanisms of transition metal catalyses are complex. The dominant kinetic steps are propagation and chain transfer. There is no termination step for the polymer chains, but the catalytic sites can be activated and deactivated. The expected form for the propagation rate is... 

As the crystal surface exposed to the atmosphere is usually not ideal, specific sites exist with even much lower co-ordination numbers. This is shown schematically in Fig. 3.5, which gives a model comprising so-called step, kink and terrace sites (Morrison, 1982). This analysis suggests that even pure metal surfaces contain a wide variety of active sites, which indeed has been confirmed by surface science studies. Nevertheless, catalytic surfaces often behave rather homogeneously. Later it will be discussed why this is the case. In short, the most active sites deactivate easiest and the poorest active sites do not contribute much to the catalytic activity, leaving the average activity sites to play the major role. 

Scheme 9.6 Deactivation of active catalytic sites by binding ferrocene derivatives to the CD hosts on the Pd nanoparticles. (Reprinted with permission of the American Chemical Society [70].)...

The 3-arylthioethylsydnone (48) (TTMS) has been investigated as a P450 inactivator. Metabolism of this derivative results in A -alkylation and deactivation of the P450 catalytic site <88BJ(22)4805>. As a result of this metabolic pathway TTMS acts as a potent inhibitor of ferrochelatase. 

It is now considered, by most groups working in this area, that vanadyl pyrophosphate (VO)2P207 is the central phase of the Vanadium Phosphate system for butane oxidation to maleic anhydride (7 ). However the local structure of the catalytic sites is still a subject of discussion since, up to now, it has not been possible to study the characteristics of the catalyst under reaction conditions. Correlations have been attempted between catalytic performances obtained at variable temperature (380-430 C) in steady state conditions and physicochemical characterization obtained at room temperature after the catalytic test, sometimes after some deactivation of the catalyst. As a consequence, this has led to some confusion as to the nature of the active phase and of the effective sites. (VO)2P207, V (IV) is mainly detected by X-Ray Diffraction. 

Product selectivity occurs when some of the products formed in the catalyst pore are too bulky to diffuse out, being converted to less bulky molecules (e.g., by equilibration or cracking). The large product molecules, which cannot diffuse out, may eventually deactivate the catalytic sites by blocking the pores. 

While catalytic HDM results in a desirable, nearly metal-free product, the catalyst in the reactor is laden with metal sulfide deposits that eventually result in deactivation. Loss of catalyst activity is attributed to both the physical obstruction of the catalyst pellets pores by deposits and to the chemical contamination of the active catalytic sites by deposits. The radial metal deposit distribution in catalyst pellets is easily observed and understood in terms of the classic theory of diffusion and reaction in porous media. Application of the theory for the design and development of HDM and HDS catalysts has proved useful. Novel concepts and approaches to upgrading metal-laden heavy residua will require more information. However, detailed examination of the chemical and physical structure of the metal deposits is not possible because of current analytical limitations for microscopically complex and heterogeneous materials. Similarly, experimental methods that reveal the complexities of the fine structure of porous materials and theoretical methods to describe them are not yet... 

When olefins are used as alkylating agents, the catalytic activity of Nafion-H slowly decreases, most probably due to some polymerization on the surface, which deactivates the catalytic sites. The activity decreases faster when more reactive branched alkenes are used. The use of alcohols instead of olefins as the alkylating agents improves the lifetime of the catalyst. With alcohols, no ready polymerization takes place, since water formed as byproduct inhibits polymerization of any olefin formed (by dehydration) but does not affect the acidity of the catalyst at the reaction temperatures. 

The existence of temperature optimum (kinetic curve 2, Figure 7.26) can be explained by deactivation processes, which reduce the part of really active catalytic sites. Hence, despite deactivation of a significant part of iron protoporphyrin complexes, catalase activity is preserved. Apparently, a much smaller amount of redox catalytic site is enough for H202 dissociation in this temperature range. 

Enzymes are proteins that catalyze reactions. Thousands of enzymes have been classified and there is no clear limit as to the number that exists in nature or that can be created artificially. Enzymes have one or more catalytic sites that are similar in principle to the active sites on a solid catalyst that are discussed in Chapter 10, but there are major differences in the nature of the sites and in the nature of the reactions they catalyze. Mass transport to the active site of an enzyme is usually done in the liquid phase. Reaction rates in moles per volume per time are several orders of magnitude lower than rates typical of solid-catalyzed gas reactions. Optimal temperatures for enzymatic reactions span the range typical of living organisms, from about 4°C for cold-water fish, to about 40°C for birds and mammals, to over 100°C for thermophilic bacteria. Enzymatic reactions require very specific molecular orientations before they can proceed. As compensation for the lower reaction rates, enzymatic reactions are highly selective. They often require specific stereoisomers as the reactant (termed the substrate in the jargon of biochemistry) and can generate stereospecific products. Enzymes are subject to inhibition and deactivation like other forms of catalysis. 

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