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Elucidating the Distribution and Speciation of Boron and Cesium in BCsX Zeolite Catalysts for Styrene Production
Author(s) -
Martín Antonio J.,
Mitchell Sharon,
Scholder Olivier,
Verel René,
Hauert Roland,
Bernard Laetitia,
Jensen Christopher,
Schwefer Meinhard,
PérezRamírez Javier
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
chemphyschem
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.016
H-Index - 140
eISSN - 1439-7641
pISSN - 1439-4235
DOI - 10.1002/cphc.201701086
Subject(s) - boron , catalysis , styrene , zeolite , chemistry , caesium , mass spectrometry , alkylation , ion exchange , selectivity , toluene , methanol , heterogeneous catalysis , inorganic chemistry , chemical engineering , ion , organic chemistry , chromatography , copolymer , polymer , engineering
An improved understanding of the nature and distribution of boron and cesium species in BCsX zeolites is a prerequisite to guide future developments in the environmentally attractive, yet challenging, production of styrene through the side‐chain alkylation of toluene with methanol. Herein, standard characterization and catalytic tests are complemented by integrated visualization through time‐of‐flight secondary‐ion mass spectrometry and energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy and detailed assessment by 133 Cs and 11 B NMR spectroscopy, to correlate the properties and performance during successive ion‐exchange and impregnation steps in the preparation of both powders and millimeter‐sized granules. The results highlight a significant impact of catalyst scaleup on the effective introduction of boron species, which originates chemical heterogeneity that is linked to selectivity losses. They also illustrate the complexity of elucidating the role of this promotor, which interacts with cesium cations and exhibits different coordination states and chemical environments, depending on the pretreatment.