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Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons

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Chemistry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

2011

Catalysts

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Full-Text Articles in Physical Sciences and Mathematics

Synthesis And Characterization Of Catalysts For The Selective Transformation Of Biomass-Derived Materials, Isaac Tyrone Ghampson Dec 2011

Synthesis And Characterization Of Catalysts For The Selective Transformation Of Biomass-Derived Materials, Isaac Tyrone Ghampson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The experimental work in this thesis focuses on generating catalysts for two intermediate processes related to the thermal conversion of lignocellulosic biomass: the synthesis and characterization of mesoporous silica supported cobalt catalysts for the Fischer-Tropsch reaction, and an exploration of the reactivity of bulk and supported molybdenum-based nitride catalysts for the hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) of guaiacol, a lignin model compound. The first section of the work details the synthesis of a series of silicasupported cobalt Fischer-Tropsch catalysts with pore diameters ranging from 2-23 nm. Detailed X-ray diffraction measurements were used to determine the composition and particle diameters of the metal fraction, …


Comparative Study Of Ethanol And Methanol Electro-Oxidation On A Platinum/Ceria Composite Electrode In Alkaline And Acid Solutions : Electro-Catalytic Performance And Reaction Kinetics, Carlos Humberto Hidalgo Martinez Jan 2011

Comparative Study Of Ethanol And Methanol Electro-Oxidation On A Platinum/Ceria Composite Electrode In Alkaline And Acid Solutions : Electro-Catalytic Performance And Reaction Kinetics, Carlos Humberto Hidalgo Martinez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

A comparative study of the electro-oxidation of ethanol and methanol was carried out on a Pt/ceria composite electrode prepared by electro-deposition. Modification of the Pt electrode was realized by co-deposition from a 1.0 mM K₂PtCl₆ solution that also contained a 20 mM suspension of ceria. The electro-catalytic activities and stabilities of the Pt/ceria catalyst towards ethanol electro-oxidation reactions (EOR) and methanol electro-oxidation reactions (MOR) were investigated by potentiodynamic and potentiostatic methods in 0.5 M sulfuric acid and 1.0 M sodium hydroxide solutions at various concentrations of ethanol and methanol. The kinetics of ethanol and methanol on a Pt/ceria composite electrode …