Synthesis and Characterization of Solid Acids

该奖项授予佛罗里达大学化学系的Russell S. Drago博士，以表彰他研究了一种测量和控制固体酸性催化剂酸度的新方法。该奖项属于EPA/NSF环境研究伙伴关系的可持续环境技术部分，由无机、生物无机和有机金属化学计划和多学科活动办公室提供支持。固体酸性催化剂取代强酸溶剂和试剂，可以减少与许多工业过程有关的有毒废物，例如烷基化，这些过程需要硫酸或氢氟酸来促进反应。量热滴定和吸附等温线的结果将用于确定固体上不同反应位点的平衡常数和焓。当与光谱和反应性数据相结合时，将为感兴趣的反应确定反应阈值和最佳固体酸度。溶胶-凝胶法将用于制备一系列固体酸，这些固体酸将不同的高氧化态元素纳入二氧化硅结构中。元素变化和合成变量的系统变化对酸度的影响将被确定，并与各种固体酸催化剂对烷烃异构化的选择性相关联。将比较具有相似酸强度的无孔和微孔固体。石油工业使用氢氟酸和硫酸来引发许多改变分子碳链排列或长度的反应。固体酸可以代替这些含水酸，在许多精炼领域提供廉价和可重复使用的替代品。在本研究中，将发展一种系统的方法来评估固体酸在各种反应中的有效性。

This award is made to Dr. Russell S. Drago of the Chemistry Department, University of Florida, for investigation of a new method to measure and control the acidity of solid acid catalysts. The award is in the Technology for Sustainable Environment component of the EPA/NSF Partnership for Environmental Research, and support is provided by the Inorganic, Bioinorganic, and Organometallic Chemistry Program and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities. Solid acid catalysts substituted for strong acid solvents and reagents can reduce toxic wastes associated with many industrial processes, such as alkylation, that require sulfuric acid or hydrofluoric acid to promote reaction. Results of calorimetric titrations and adsorption isotherms will be used to determine equilibrium constants and enthalpies for various reaction sites on the solids. When coupled with spectroscopic and reactivity data, reaction thresholds and optimum solid acidities will be determined for reactions of interest. Sol-gel methods will be used to prepare a series of solid acids that incorporate different high oxidation state elements into the silica structure. The effect of element changes and systematic changes in the synthesis variables on acidity will be determined and correlated with selectivity of various solid acid catalysts for isomerization of alkanes. Non-porous and microporous solids with similar acid strengths will be compared. The petroleum industry uses hydrofluoric and sulfuric acids to initiate many reactions that alter the arrangement or length of molecular carbon chains. Solid acids that can replace these aqueous acids provide inexpensive and reusable substitutes in many areas of refining. In this study, a systematic approach to assessing the effectiveness of solid acids in various reactions will be developed.