Self-diffusion coefficients catalysts

Table 5, Average polymer chain concentration (ape), polymer swellability (S), rotational correlation times of TEMPONE (r) and self-diffusion coefficient of methanol (Zf) in the swollen 2,2% Pd catalysts.

Fig. 3.3.4 Variation of the tortuosity x inside the catalyst pellets during coking and regeneration, obtained by measuring the self-diffusion coefficient of n-heptane at room temperature.

Self-diffusion under equilibrium conditions may also be monitored in multicomponent systems. Again, with both eqs 2 and 3 a self-diffusion coefficient (of a particular component) may be defined. This coefficient depends on the nature and the concentration of all molecular species involved as well as on the nature of the catalyst particle. 

It has been demonstrated that the combined application of various NMR techniques for observing molecular rotations and migrations on different time scales can contribute to a deeper understanding of the elementary steps of molecular diffusion in zeolite catalysts. The NMR results (self-diffusion coefficients, anisotropic diffiisivities, jump lengths, and residence times) can be correlated with corresponding neutron scattering data and sorption kinetics as well as molecular dynamics calculations, thus giving a comprehensive picture of molecular motions in porous solids. 

The dynamic characteristics of adsorbed molecules can be determined in terms of temperature dependences of relaxation times [14-16] and by measurements of self-diffusion coefficients applying the pulsed-gradient spin-echo method [ 17-20]. Both methods enable one to estimate the mobility of molecules in adsorbent pores and the rotational mobility of separate molecular groups. The methods are based on the fact that the nuclear spin relaxation time of a molecule depends on the feasibility for adsorbed molecules to move in adsorbent pores. The lower the molecule s mobility, the more effective is the interaction between nuclear magnetic dipoles of adsorbed molecules and the shorter is the nuclear spin relaxation time. The results of measuring relaxation times at various temperatures may form the basis for calculations of activation characteristics of molecular motions of adsorbed molecules in an adsorption layer. These characteristics are of utmost importance for application of adsorbents as catalyst carriers. They determine the diffusion of reagent molecules towards the active sites of a catalyst and the rate of removal of reaction products. Sometimes the data on the temperature dependence of a diffusion coefficient allow one to ascertain subtle mechanisms of filling of micropores in activated carbons [17]. 

The self-diffusion coefficients of toluene in polystyrene gels are approximately the same as in solutions of the same volume fraction lymer, according to pulsed field gradient NMR experiments (2fl). Toluene in a 10% cross-linked polystyrene swollen to 0.55 volume fraction polymer has a self-diffusion coefficient about 0.08 times that of bulk liquid toluene. Rates of rotational diffusion (molecular Brownian motion) determined from NMR spin-lattice relaxation times of toluene in 2% cross-linked ((polystytyl)methyl)tri-/t-butylphosphonium ion phase transfer catalysts arc reduced by factors of 3 to 20 compai with bulk liquid toluene (21). Rates of rotational diffusion of a soluble nitroxide in polystyrene gels, determined from ESR linewidths, decrease as the degree of swelling of the polymer decreases (321. 

To summarize, there is a sizable and self-consistent body of data indicating that rotational and translational mobility of molecules inside swollen gel-type CFPs are interrelated and controlled mainly by viscosity. Accordingly, T, self-diffusion and diffusion coefficients bear the same information (at least for comparative purposes) concerning diffusion rates within swollen gel phases. However, the measurement of r is by far the most simple (it requires only the collection of a single spectrum). For this reason, only r values have been used so far in the interpretation of diffusion phenomena in swollen heterogeneous metal catalysts supported on CFPs [81,82]. 

Abstract Zeolites are of prime importance to the petrochemical industry as catalysts for hydrocarbon conversion. In their molecule-sized micropores, hydrocarbon diffusion plays a pivotal role in the flnal catalytic performance. Here, we present the results of Positron Emission Profiling experiments with labeled hydrocarbons in zeolites with the MFI morphology. Single-component self-diffnsion coefficients of hexanes in silicalite-1 and its acidic connterpart H-ZSM-5 are determined. For the first time, self-diffnsion co-... 

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