A protocol for high-temperature and high-pressure gas adsorption measurements on zeolite H-ZSM-5 using an adsorption measurement device based on a langatate crystal microbalance is presented. Prior to the adsorption measurements, the synthesis of zeolite H-ZSM-5 on the langatate crystal microbalance sensor by the steam-assisted crystallization (SAC) method is demonstrated.
We present a high-temperature and high-pressure gas adsorption measurement device based on a high-frequency oscillating microbalance (5 MHz langatate crystal microbalance, LCM) and its use for gas adsorption measurements in zeolite H-ZSM-5. Prior to the adsorption measurements, zeolite H-ZSM-5 crystals were synthesized on the gold electrode in the center of the LCM, without covering the connection points of the gold electrodes to the oscillator, by the steam-assisted crystallization (SAC) method, so that the zeolite crystals remain attached to the oscillating microbalance while keeping good electroconductivity of the LCM during the adsorption measurements. Compared to a conventional quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) which is limited to temperatures below 80 °C, the LCM can realize the adsorption measurements in principle at temperatures as high as 200-300 °C (i.e., at or close to the reaction temperature of the target application of one-stage DME synthesis from the synthesis gas), owing to the absence of crystalline-phase transitions up to its melting point (1,470 °C). The system was applied to investigate the adsorption of CO2, H2O, methanol and dimethyl ether (DME), each in the gas phase, on zeolite H-ZSM-5 in the temperature and pressure range of 50-150 °C and 0-18 bar, respectively. The results showed that the adsorption isotherms of these gases in H-ZSM-5 can be well fitted by Langmuir-type adsorption isotherms. Furthermore, the determined adsorption parameters, i.e., adsorption capacities, adsorption enthalpies, and adsorption entropies, compare well to literature data. In this work, the results for CO2 are shown as an example.
Adsorption properties strongly influence the performance of catalytic materials, hence precise knowledge of these properties can assist in characterization, design and optimization of such materials. However, the adsorption properties are generally judged from single-component adsorption measurements often at room temperatures or even under liquid nitrogen conditions, and therefore an extension to practical situations may lead to a severe deviation from the real behavior. In situ adsorption measurements on catalytic materials, especially at high temperature and high pressure conditions, still remain a great challenge.
An adsorption measurement device based on a quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) is advantageous over the commercialized volumetric and gravimetric methods in a way that it is highly accurate for mass sorption applications, satisfactorily stable in a controlled environment, and more affordable1-2. However, the conventional QCM analysis is limited to temperatures below 80 °C1-2. In order to overcome this limitation, we developed an adsorption measurement device based on a high-temperature high-frequency oscillating microbalance (langatate crystal microbalance, LCM)3, which can realize the adsorption measurements in principle at temperatures as high as 200-300 °C, owing to the absence of crystalline-phase transitions up to its melting point (1,470 °C)4. The LCMs used in this work have an AT-cut (i.e., the plate of the crystal microbalance contains the x axis of the crystal and is inclined by 35°15' from the z axis) and a resonant frequency of 5 MHz. This device was applied to the adsorption measurements of CO2, H2O, methanol, and dimethyl ether (DME), each in gaseous state, on zeolite H-ZSM-5 in the temperature range of 50-150 °C and pressure range of 0-18 bar3, aiming at the validation of simulation models for the optimization of bifunctional core-shell catalysts for one-stage production of DME from the synthesis gas5-6. How to operate this device for gas adsorption measurements is presented in the protocol section.
Prior to the adsorption measurements, zeolite H-ZSM-5 crystallites (0.502 mg) were synthesized on the gold electrode in the center of the LCM by the steam-assisted crystallization (SAC) method according to de la Iglesia et al.7, in such a way that the zeolite crystallites remain attached to the oscillating microbalance. As shown in Figure 1, the LCM used in the adsorption measurement device has polished gold electrodes on both sides, which help to connect the LCM to an oscillator. Since the zeolite crystals on the connection points of the gold electrodes to the oscillator would significantly reduce the electroconductivity (as indicated in Figure 1) and thus the measurement sensitivity of the LCM, the zeolite H-ZSM-5 crystals were deposited on the LCM via the SAC method not covering these connection points3. The details about the synthesis of zeolite H-ZSM-5 on LCM are briefly summarized in the following protocol section and shown in the video protocol in detail.
Caution: Please consult all relevant material safety data sheets (MSDS) before use. Several of the chemicals used in the synthesis of zeolite H-ZSM-5 are acutely toxic and carcinogenic. Nanomaterials may have additional risks compared to their bulk counterpart. Please use all appropriate safety practices when performing a nanocrystal reaction including the use of engineering controls (fume hood, glovebox) and personal protective equipment (safety glasses, gloves, lab coat, full length pants, closed-toe shoes). Moreover, pay special attention when, performing the adsorption measurements with methanol and DME, since both are flammable and explosive dangerous materials.
1. Synthesis of Zeolite H-ZSM-5 on the LCM
2. Adsorption Measurements Using the LCM-based Adsorption Measurement Device3
Note: In this work, the LCM without coating and the one coated with H-ZSM-5 (prepared in the last section) is termed "reference LCM" and "sample LCM", respectively. Moreover, the sample LCM before zeolite deposition is termed "unloaded sample LCM". In a previous publication in Journal of Physical Chemistry C3, a detailed description of the LCM-based adsorption measurement device can be found. In this work, the operation of the device for gas adsorption measurements is presented in this short protocol and in the video protocol in detail.
Figure 1 shows the photographs, light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images of the coated and uncoated LCM sensor (left), as well as their X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns (right). From both, light and scanning electron microscopy (Figure 1b and c), the connection points of the gold electrodes to the oscillator are less covered with zeolite crystals than the center region of the LCM. Most of the zeolite crystals on top of the LCM-sensor are isolated and show characteristic rounded-boat morphology, with the (010)-plane predominantly facing up. Besides, some crystals additionally show the typical intergrowth behavior ("twinned crystals"). Moreover, the loaded H-ZSM-5 (Si/Al molar ratio of 100 according to the composition of the synthesis mixture) on the langatate crystal has been investigated by XRD and wavelength-dispersive X-ray (WDX) spectroscopy3.
In Figure 2, CO2 adsorption isotherms for the H-ZSM-5 zeolite obtained with the LCM device in the temperature range of 50-150 °C and pressure range of 0-16 bar, as well as the fit of the single site Langmuir isotherm model to the experimental data, are shown to give a representative example. As shown in Figure 2, the determined adsorption isotherms of CO2 were fitted with a single site Langmuir isotherm well. Figure 3 shows the diagram of ln(K'i) vs. 1,000/T for CO2 as derived from the adsorption isotherms, i.e., the temperature dependence of the adsorption constants determined from the fit of the adsorption isotherms. The adsorption enthalpies and entropies of CO2 were determined by fitting with the van't Hoff equation (see the Supporting Information of the previous publication3). The results of the model fitting show that the adsorption capacity, adsorption enthalpy and adsorption entropy for CO2 in H-ZSM-5 are 4.0 ± 0.2 mmol g-1, 15.3 ± 0.5 kJ mol-1 and 56.3 ± 1.5 J mol-1 K-1, respectively3.
The high quality of the fit of the single site Langmuir isotherm and the van't Hoff equation as shown in Figures 2 and 3 supports the assumption of a constant adsorption capacity (i.e., saturation loading) and enthalpy (i.e., heat of adsorption) to be valid at least for the range of conditions used. Moreover, the adsorption parameters of CO2 determined by the LCM-based adsorption measurement device in this work compare well to values reported in literature9-12, i.e., the adsorption capacity, adsorption enthalpy and adsorption entropy reported for CO2 in MFI-type zeolites vary in the range of 2.1-3.8 mmol g-1, 19-28.7 kJ mol-1, and 43.7-82.7 J mol-1 K-1, respectively, in the temperature range of 30-200 °C and pressure range of 0-5 bar.
Figure 1. Coated langatate crystal microbalance sensor (left). (a) Photographs of the coated and uncoated sensor (right), (b) light microscopy and (c) scanning electron microscopy images. The X-ray diffraction patterns of coated and uncoated LCM sensor (right). This figure has been modified from a previous publication3. Reprinted with the permission of American Chemical Society (Copyright 2015). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 2. Adsorption isotherms for CO2 in H-ZSM-5 at 50 (), 75 (), 100 (), and 150 °C (). The symbols represent the experimental data, the error bars indicate the measurement uncertainty of the resonant frequencies caused by, e.g., the temperature instability, and calculated according to the Sauerbrey equation as described in Step 2.2.4, and the lines represent the fit of the single site Langmuir isotherm model to the experimental data. This figure has been modified from a previous publication3. Reprinted with the permission of American Chemical Society (Copyright 2015). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
Figure 3. ln(Ki) vs. 1,000/T to determine adsorption enthalpies and entropies for CO2. This figure has been modified from a previous publication3. Reprinted with the permission of American Chemical Society (Copyright 2015). Please click here to view a larger version of this figure.
In this work, the successful synthesis of the zeolite H-ZSM-5 crystals on the gold electrode in the center of the LCM sensor by SAC is demonstrated, i.e., the zeolite is successfully loaded on the LCM sensor without covering the connection points of the gold electrodes to the oscillator. Thus, the zeolite can oscillate together with the LCM sensor, while the LCM sensor keeps its good electroconductivity and measurement sensitivity. Compared to the conventional QCM devices which are limited below 80 °C, the LCM device presented in this work is successfully used for the adsorption measurements at temperatures as high as 150 °C, i.e., at or close to the temperature of reactions in industry. However, the present LCM device is limited below 200 °C. At temperatures higher than 200 °C, the measurement uncertainty may exceed the mass of the adsorbed gas, since, with the increasing temperature above 150 °C, the mass of the adsorbed gas has a significant decrease, whereas the measurement uncertainty increases significantly due to the decreasing temperature control precision. Thus, in future experiments, a new method should be developed to deposit more zeolite on the LCM, which causes more gas to adsorb, and moreover compensates the effect of the temperature and pressure on . This could help to extend the application range of the LCM device to higher temperatures.
During the experiment, the critical steps in the zeolite synthesis are Steps 1.2.2.1, 1.2.2.4, 1.2.2.5 and 1.2.2.7, while those in the adsorption measurements are Steps 2.1.1.3, 2.1.1.4, 2.2.1, 2.2.5 and 2.2.6. In Step 1.2.2.1, avoid placing too much of the synthesis mixture on the LCM, which would spread on the connection points of the gold electrodes. In Step 1.2.2.4, carefully put the Teflon holder with the LCM in the autoclave to ensure that the LCM is horizontal and does not contact the liquid water at the bottom. In Steps 1.2.2.5 and 1.2.2.7, do not use a higher temperature in the zeolite synthesis and calcination, since our previous experiments show that it leads to degradation of the LCM. In the adsorption measurements, the position of the LCM sensors has a significant effect on the connectivity of the LCM sensors to the oscillator, and therefore on the quality of the resonant frequency signals. Therefore, pay special attention to Steps 2.1.1.3 and 2.1.1.4, in which the LCMs are loaded on the holder and pretested. The LCMs should be in the position that they are connected with the oscillator via the connection points of the electrodes (indicated in Figure 1). This is mandatory to obtain high quality resonant frequency signals enabling high measurement accuracy. In addition, in Steps 2.2.1 and 2.2.6, ensure that a stable temperature is achieved before the measurements, since this also increases the measurement accuracy. Moreover, in Step 2.2.5, feed the gas slowly, in order to have a small change of the temperature inside. This helps the temperature to become stable again after a short time.
Since the SAC synthesis method for zeolite H-ZSM-5 on the LCM sensor could be extended to other zeolites easily, the LCM-based adsorption measurement device is expected to be used for them as well. Moreover, due to its high accuracy and low cost, this device is expected to be applicable to any material, which could be coated on the LCM, in order to investigate its adsorption properties at high temperatures.
The authors have nothing to disclose.
This research has been funded by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) within the framework of the priority program 1570: porous media with defined pore system in process engineering – modeling, application, synthesis, under grant numbers DI 696/9-1 to -3 and SCHW 478/23-1 to -3.
tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), other name: tetraethoxysilane | Alfa Aesar | A14965 | purity > 98 %, acutely toxic, inflammable and explosive |
aluminum nitrate nonahydrate: Al(NO3)3*9H2O | Chempur | 000176 | purity > 98.5 % |
tetrapropylammonium hydroxide: (TPAOH) | Sigma-Aldrich | 254533 | 1 mol dm-3 aqueous solution, skin corrosive |
sodium hydroxide: NaOH | Merck | 106498 | purity > 99 %, skin corrosive |
Ammonium chloride: NH4Cl | Merck | 101145 | purity > 99.8 %, harmful |
Carbon dioxide (CO2) | Air Liquide | — | purity > 99.7 % |
high-pressure stainless steel chamber | Büchi AG, Uster, Switzerland | Midiclave | Volume = 300 mL, up to 200 bar, 300 °C |
langatate crystal microbalance sensors | C3 Prozess- and Analysentechnik GmbH, Munich, Germany | — | Diameter: 14 mm, resonant frequency: 5 MHz |
high-frequency oscillating microbalance | Gamry Instruments, Warminster, USA | eQCM 10M | Frequency range: 1 MHz – 10 MHz (15 MHz), resolution: 20 mHz |