Kieselguhr

The kieselguhr excavated can seldom be used without treatment since it contains water, organic substances and other sediment material [308, 332]. 

The amounts of these impurities vary with the region of the deposit and the method of processing. The composition of two non-ignited, dried, light coloured kieselguhrs is given in the table  

Chemical Composition in % Central Europe, North America 

Some data for processed, ignited earths are in the following table [496, 677]. It is evident from the figures that the pore structure varies considerably, in contrast to silica gels.  

Kieselguhr Surface Pore Voliune Macro-pore 

This is a silica-based support (85-90% Si02) containing alumina (3-6%) and can be found in nature in the form of fossilized diatoms. This type of support has found primary usage in both continuous-flow oligonucleotide and peptide synthesis. Typical loadings are in the range of 0.05-0.13 mmol amine/g and go by the names NovaSyn KD (Calbiochem-Novabiochem Corp.) or Macrosorb K (Phase Separations Ltd.) [31], 

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The classic catalyst consists of Co-Th02-MgO mixtures supported on Kieselguhr (see Ref. 269) group VIII metals, especially Ni, generally are active,... 

The addition of siliceous material e.g., kieselguhr, Fuller s earth, diatom-aceous earth, or powdered pumice) promotes the acid-catalysed dehydration of the alcohol 2-3 g. of siliceous material for each mole of alcohol is recommended. 

Benzene-Based Catalyst Technology. The catalyst used for the conversion of ben2ene to maleic anhydride consists of supported vanadium oxide [11099-11-9]. The support is an inert oxide such as kieselguhr, alumina [1344-28-17, or sUica, and is of low surface area (142). Supports with higher surface area adversely affect conversion of benzene to maleic anhydride. The conversion of benzene to maleic anhydride is a less complex oxidation than the conversion of butane, so higher catalyst selectivities are obtained. The vanadium oxide on the surface of the support is often modified with molybdenum oxides. There is approximately 70% vanadium oxide and 30% molybdenum oxide [11098-99-0] in the active phase for these fixed-bed catalysts (143). The molybdenum oxide is thought to form either a soUd solution or compound oxide with the vanadium oxide and result in a more active catalyst (142). 

Isopropylnaphthalenes can be prepared readily by the catalytic alkylation of naphthalene with propjiene. 2-lsopropylnaphthalene [2027-17-0] is an important intermediate used in the manufacture of 2-naphthol (see Naphthalenederivatives). The alkylation of naphthalene with propjiene, preferably in an inert solvent at 40—100°C with an aluminum chloride, hydrogen fluoride, or boron trifluoride—phosphoric acid catalyst, gives 90—95% wt % 2-isopropylnaphthalene however, a considerable amount of polyalkylate also is produced. Preferably, the propylation of naphthalene is carried out in the vapor phase in a continuous manner, over a phosphoric acid on kieselguhr catalyst under pressure at ca 220—250°C. The alkylate, which is low in di- and polyisopropylnaphthalenes, then is isomerized by recycling over the same catalyst at 240°C or by using aluminum chloride catalyst at 80°C. After distillation, a product containing >90 wt % 2-isopropylnaphthalene is obtained (47). 

Phosphates are the principal catalysts used in polymerization units the commercially used catalysts are Hquid phosphoric acid, phosphoric acid on kieselguhr, copper pyrophosphate pellets, and phosphoric acid film on quartz. The last is the least active and has the disadvantage that carbonaceous deposits must occasionally be burned off the support. Compared to other processes, the one using Hquid phosphoric acid catalyst is far more responsive to attempts to raise production by increasing temperature. 

Currently, almost all cumene is produced commercially by two processes ( /) a fixed-bed, kieselguhr-supported phosphoric acid catalyst system developed by UOP and (2) a homogeneous AlCl and hydrogen chloride catalyst system developed by Monsanto. 

Dicyclohexylarnine may be selectively generated by reductive alkylation of cyclohexylamine by cyclohexanone (15). Stated batch reaction conditions are specifically 0.05—2.0% Pd or Pt catalyst, which is reusable, pressures of 400—700 kPa (55—100 psi), and temperatures of 75—100°C to give complete reduction in 4 h. Continuous vapor-phase amination selective to dicyclohexylarnine is claimed for cyclohexanone (16) or mixed cyclohexanone plus cyclohexanol (17) feeds. Conditions are 5—15 s contact time of <1 1 ammonia ketone, - 3 1 hydrogen ketone at 260°C over nickel on kieselguhr. With mixed feed the preferred conditions over a mixed copper chromite plus nickel catalyst are 18-s contact time at 250 °C with ammonia alkyl = 0.6 1 and hydrogen alkyl = 1 1. 

Isomerization of sorbitol, D-mannitol, L-iditol, and dulcitol occurs in aqueous solution in the presence of hydrogen under pressure and a nickel—kieselguhr catalyst at 130—190°C (160). In the case of the first three, a quasiequiUbrium composition is obtained regardless of starting material. Equilibrium concentrations are 41.4% sorbitol, 31.5% D-mannitol, 26.5% L-iditol, and 0.6% dulcitol. In the presence of the same catalyst, the isohexides estabUsh an equihbrium at 220—240°C and 15.2 MPa (150 atm) of hydrogen pressure, having the composition 57% isoidide, 36% isosorbide, and 7% isomannide (161). 

Supports. The principal component of a typical catalyst is the porous support (49,50). Most supports are robust soHds that can be made with wide ranges of surface areas and pore size distributions. The most widely appHed supports are metal oxides others are carbon, kieselguhr, organic polymers, and zeoHtes. 

Composition. Among the most commonly used support materials are aluminas, siUcas, and aluminosihcates with a wide range of alumina to sihca ratios, as well as activated carbon, siUcon carbide, selected clays, various ceramics, artificial and natural 2eohtes, kieselguhr, and pumice. Polymeric... 

Hydrogenation. Hydrogenation is one of the oldest and most widely used appHcations for supported catalysts, and much has been written in this field (55—57). Metals useflil in hydrogenation include cobalt, copper, nickel, palladium, platinum, rhenium, rhodium, mthenium, and silver, and there are numerous catalysts available for various specific appHcations. Most hydrogenation catalysts rely on extremely fine dispersions of the active metal on activated carbon, alumina, siHca-alumina, 2eoHtes, kieselguhr, or inert salts, such as barium sulfate. 

For more selective hydrogenations, supported 5—10 wt % palladium on activated carbon is preferred for reductions in which ring hydrogenation is not wanted. Mild conditions, a neutral solvent, and a stoichiometric amount of hydrogen are used to avoid ring hydrogenation. There are also appHcations for 35—40 wt % cobalt on kieselguhr, copper chromite (nonpromoted or promoted with barium), 5—10 wt % platinum on activated carbon, platinum (IV) oxide (Adams catalyst), and rhenium heptasulfide. Alcohol yields can sometimes be increased by the use of nonpolar (nonacidic) solvents and small amounts of bases, such as tertiary amines, which act as catalyst inhibitors. 

Supported palladium, zirconium-promoted cobalt on kieselguhr, or nickel on kieselguhr can be used under relatively mild conditions to effect reduction of the nitrile function without hydrogenating the ring. 

Palladium and platinum (5—10 wt % on activated carbon) can be used with a variety of solvents as can copper carbonate on siHca and 60 wt % nickel on kieselguhr. The same is tme of nonsupported catalysts copper chromite, rhenium (VII) sulfide, rhenium (VI) oxide, and any of the Raney catalysts, copper, iron, or nickel. 

The first commercial shipment of diatomite ia the United States was made ia 1893 and consisted of material from a small quarry operation ia the vast deposit near Lompoc, California. It went to San Francisco to be used for pipe iasulation. Small-scale operation of parts of the Lompoc deposit continued until it was acquired by the Kieselguhr Co. of America, which later became the CeHte Co. (4). Siace that first work, the iadustry has grown immensely, and diatomite products are used ia almost every country. 

H. S. Thatcher, Sugar Filtration—Improved Methods Filtration, Kieselguhr Co. of America, Lompoc, Calif., 1915. 

Graded Adsorbents and Solvents. Materials used in columns for adsorption chromatography are grouped in Table 12 in an approximate order of effectiveness. Other adsorbents sometimes used include barium carbonate, calcium sulfate, calcium phosphate, charcoal (usually mixed with Kieselguhr or other form of diatomaceous earth, for example, the filter aid Celite) and cellulose. The alumina can be prepared in several grades of activity (see below). 

Diatomaceous earth (Celite 535 or 545, Hyflo Super-cel, Dicalite, Kieselguhr) is purified before use by washing with 3M hydrochloric acid, then water, or it is made into a slurry with hot water, filtered at the pump and washed with water at 50° until the filtrate is no longer alkaline to litmus. Organic materials can be removed by repeated extraction at 50° with methanol or chloroform, followed by washing with methanol, filtering and drying at 90-100°. 

Purity can be checked by chromatography (on thin-layer plates, Kieselguhr, paper or columns), by UV or NMR procedures. 

Chlorotrifluoromethane [75-72-9] M 104.5, m -180 , b -81.5 . Main impurities were CO2, O2, and N2. The CO2 was removed by passage through saturated aqueous KOH, followed by cone H2SO4. The O2 was removed using a tower packed with activated copper on Kieselguhr at 200°, and the gas dried over P2O5. 

Geraniol [106-24-1] M 154.3, b 230 , d 0.879, n 1.4766. Purified by ascending chromatography or by thin layer chromatography on plates of kieselguhr G with acetone/water/liquid paraffin (130 70 1) as solvent system. Hexane/ethyl acetate (1 4) is also suitable. Also purified by GLC on a silicone-treated column of Carbowax 20M (10%) on Chromosorb W (60-80 mesh). [Porter Pure Appl Chem 20 499 7969.] Stored in full, tightly sealed containers in the cool, protected from light. 

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