Linking diffusion and reaction - Understanding and controlling transport processes to optimize rates and selectivities for (micro-)porous catalysts

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Andreas Jentys
• Subject Area: Technical Chemistry ; Solid State and Surface Chemistry, Material Synthesis ; Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
• Term: from 2016 to 2020
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 313864573

The objective of the project is to measure, analyze, and model the competitive transport of reactants, intermediates, and products for the gas phase isomerization of xylenes with the aim of developing concepts for the design of a new generation of catalysts, which combine high activity with high para selectivity. This will include transport measurement under reactive and non-reactive conditions to study the role of the coverage of the active sites on the catalytic properties. Novel experimental approaches based on X-Ray absorption spectroscopy on the Al edge and MAS-NMR spectroscopy under reaction conditions will be combined with pressure and concentration step experiments to follow transport and reactivity under well-defined and conditions to explore concepts for enhancing the activity and selectivity by controlling the transport properties inside the pores under reaction conditions.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants