Heterogeneous catalysts dispersion

Installation of a tubular turbulent prereactor before the volume polymerisation device leads to a change of the heterogeneous catalyst dispersity (such as a decrease of the size of catalytically active precipitant particles) in the process of TiCl4-Al(/-C4H9)3 polymerisation with a long pass time of reactants. This makes it possible to change the content of the insoluble fraction in ds-l,4-polyisoprene, develop a method to decrease the gel-fraction content in isoprene rubber, and increase the performance characteristics of respective products. 

The isolated Ru(0) nanoparticles were used as solids (heterogeneous catalyst) or re-dispersed in BMI PP6 (biphasic liquid-liquid system) for benzene hydrogenation studies at 75 °C and under 4 bar H2. As previously described for rhodium or iridium nanoparticles, these nanoparticles (heterogeneous catalysts) are efficient for the complete hydrogenation of benzene (TOP = 125 h ) under solventless conditions. Moreover, steric substituent effects of the arene influenced the reaction time and the decrease in the catalytic TOP 45, 39 and 18h for the toluene, iPr-benzene, tBu-benzene hydrogenation, respectively, finally. The hydrogenation was not total in BMI PPg, a poor TOE of 20 h at 73% of conversion is obtained in the benzene hydrogenation. 

In the present chapter, we focus on the catalyst nature in solution using well-defined metal NPs as catal 4 ic precursors it means, soluble (or dispersible) heterogeneous pre-catalysts, as stated by Finke [6]. Some experiments described in the literature concerning the distinction between homogeneous and heterogeneous catalysts are discussed (see Section 3), followed by a particular case studied by us with regard to the catalyst nature in the allylic alkylation reaction, using preformed palladium NPs as catalytic precursors (see Section 4). 

The most widely used method for adding the elements of hydrogen to carbon-carbon double bonds is catalytic hydrogenation. Except for very sterically hindered alkenes, this reaction usually proceeds rapidly and cleanly. The most common catalysts are various forms of transition metals, particularly platinum, palladium, rhodium, ruthenium, and nickel. Both the metals as finely dispersed solids or adsorbed on inert supports such as carbon or alumina (heterogeneous catalysts) and certain soluble complexes of these metals (homogeneous catalysts) exhibit catalytic activity. Depending upon conditions and catalyst, other functional groups are also subject to reduction under these conditions. 

A heterogeneous Pd catalyst dispersed on supports such as o-A1203, C, MgO and CaC03 was found to be an recyclable and selective catalyst for heterogeneous Heck arylation (an important method of C-C bond formation - Chapt. 11) of several olefins (styrene, a-methylstyrene, 1-decene, acrylonitrile, etc.) with iodobenzene [45], Scheme 10.5. 

The use of dispersed or immobilized transition metals as catalysts for partial hydrogenation reactions of alkynes has been widely studied. Traditionally, alkyne hydrogenations for the preparation of fine chemicals and biologically active compounds were only performed with heterogeneous catalysts [80-82]. Palladium is the most selective metal catalyst for the semihydrogenation of mono-substituted acetylenes and for the transformation of alkynes to ds-alkenes. Commonly, such selectivity is due to stronger chemisorption of the triple bond on the active center. 

Most industrial catalysts are heterogeneous catalysts consisting of solid active components dispersed on the internal surface of an inorganic porous support. The active phases may consist of metals or oxides, and the support (also denoted the carrier) is typically composed of small oxidic structures with a surface area ranging from a few to several hundred m2/g. Catalysts for fixed bed reactors are typically produced as shaped pellets of mm to cm size or as monoliths with mm large gas channels. A catalyst may be useful for its activity referring to the rate at which it causes the reaction to approach chemical equilibrium, and for its selectivity which is a measure of the extent to which it accelerates the reaction to form the desired product when multiple products are possible [1],... 

This section describes catalytic systems made by a heterogeneous catalyst (e.g., a supported metal, dispersed metals, immobilized organometaUic complexes, supported acid-base catalysts, modified zeolites) that is immobilized in a hydrophilic or ionic liquid catalyst-philic phase, and in the presence of a second liquid phase—immiscible in the first phase—made, for example, by an organic solvent. The rationale for this multiphasic system is usually ease in product separation, since it can be removed with the organic phase, and ease in catalyst recovery and reuse because the latter remains immobilized in the catalyst-philic phase, it can be filtered away, and it does not contaminate the product. These systems often show improved rates as well as selectivities, along with catalyst stabilization. 

Because enzymes are insoluble in organic solvent, mass-transfer limitations apply as with any heterogeneous catalyst. Water-soluble enzymes (which represent the majority of enzymes currently used in biocatalysis) have hydrophilic surfaces and so tend to form aggregates or stick to reaction vessel walls rather than form the fine dispersions that are required for optimum efficiency. This can be overcome by enzyme immobilization, as discussed in Section 1.5. 

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