Physicochemical methods, pore structure

We have shown that the changes in the shape selectivity can be explained by changes in diffusivity by using ZSM-5 (MFI type) and Y type zeolites as model zeolites. However, it is very difficult to derive the model equations for representing the deactivation mechanisms for every types of zeolites, since each type of zeolite has different pore structure Hence, the mechanism of deactivation should be clarified for each type of zeolites. Reports on the activity of zeolites which were determined experimentally are omitted here. However, it is still impossible to evaluate physicochemical properties of a catalyst from the spectrum of ammonia TPD, which is usually employed to evaluate the acidic properties of a catalyst, since the spectrum is affected by various factors. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain the exact relationship between acidic properties and the change in activity due to deactivation. However, if an accurate method to evaluate the acidic properties is developed, it is expected that we can clarify whether the coverage of acid sites or pore blockage is the dominant factor of decrease in the activity due to coke deposition. 

Ooh = 1) is obtained after preliminary treatment of the samples in vacuo at 180-200 °C, when for each Si atom there is approximately one OH group. The average value of the silanol number for such a state, aon = 4.6 OH groups per square nanometer, is a physicochemical constant (it is independent of the type of the amorphous silica used, the method of preparing it, and the structural characteristics, that is, the specific surface area, the type of pores, the distribution of the pores according to their diameter, the packing density of the particles, and the skeleton structure of Si02). 

The emulsion behaviour in porous media is discussed in [235]. O/w emulsions with volume fractions of up to 50% show Newtonian behaviour, whereas those with more than 50% are non-Newtonian liquids, the apparent viscosity of which depends on the shear rate. The viscosities of such emulsions are more than 20 times that of water and sometimes can be even comparable with that of oil. When the emulsion is moving, a temporary permeability reduction of the reservoir may occur due to the capture of small droplets by the surface of the porous medium. In this case, stable o/w emulsions may flow not as a continuous liquid, i.e. the emulsion flow largely depends on the nature of the porous medium. Therefore, it is necessary to know about the structure and physicochemical characteristics of the oil reservoir (porous medium) porosity, the mean pore diameter, the mean pore size and pore size distribution, chemical composition of the minerals ( acidic , basic , neutral ), the nature of the pore surface, first of all wettability, for a successful application of the emulsion flooding method. 

In conclusion, it should be pointed out that none of the physicochemical techniques discussed above permits the direct measurement of the elements of the polymeric materials porous structure we measure the properties of the systems where the polymers interact with certain test substances (nitrogen, mercury, water, polystyrene standards, ions, etc.), and not the dimensions of the pores or other supramolecular elements of the material. Therefore, the evaluation of the surface area and diameters of pores available to the molecules of these substances must be considered as indirect methods of examining the porous structure. Because of this, all calculations are based on assuming certain models of the structure of the material and accepting certain assumptions as to the mechanism of interaction between the material and test molecules. Only transmittance, scanning, and, in particular, atomic force microscopy can be considered as direct methods of measuring dimensions and distances. However, up to now the last technique has not been appHed to microporous hypercrosslinked polymers. 

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