Spectroscopic investigations of hydrocarbon transformations in zeolites

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The project will look at deactivation of zeolite catalysts utilised in a range of hydrocarbon transformations, e.g. (i) the methanol-to-olefin reaction and (ii) the up-grading of olefin production at fluidised catalytic cracking (FCC) operations. Initial work will make use of a catalyst test facility located at the University of Glasgow that will be used to characterise industrial grade zeolites under regimes of steady-state operation and deactivation. Subsequent neutron studies will use INS to define the nature and form of reagents/products retained within the zeolite pore network. QENS will provide information on the diffusion characteristics of reagents/products, as well as suitably selected probe molecules. The QENS outcomes will be compared against MD based simulations to better understand the dynamics of substrate/adsorbate interactions that, ultimately, dictate selectivity profiles and catalyst lifetime. Moreover, the suitability of recent advances in neutron imaging techniques to evaluate catalyst deactivation/regeneration strategies will also be explored.