Report Summarizes Nanoparticles Study Findings from Pennsylvania State University

By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Science Letter -- Fresh data on Nanoparticles are presented in a new report. According to news originating from University Park, Pennsylvania, by NewsRx correspondents, research stated, "Nano-structured Pd catalysts with enhanced CH3OH synthesis activities for CO2 hydrogenation were prepared by integrating two different effects, i.e., incorporation of uniform mesoporous support such as MCM-41 and SBA-15 leading to small Pd nanoparticles inside nano-sized pore channels, and promotion by alkali/alkaline earth metal additives. Pd supported on these mesoporous silica without any promoters exhibited only weak activities for CH3OH formation, while the addition of K, Mg and Ca significantly enhanced their activities."

Our news journalists obtained a quote from the research from Pennsylvania State University, "K(Ca)-promoted Pd supported on SBA-15 yielded CH3OH 2-5 times as much as amorphous SiO2-supported Pd catalysts. The formation rate of CH3OH over the supported Ca/Pd varied as a function of average pore diameter of the support, and decreased in the order of MCM-41 > SBA-15 > MCM-48 > MSU-F similar to amorphous SiO2."

According to the news editors, the research concluded: "In situ Pd K-edge EXAFS and H-2 chemisorption measurements of the reduced catalysts demonstrated that small mesopores of MCM-41 and SBA-15 worked as a template for the formation of small Pd-0 nanoparticles, leading to the higher activities for CH3OH formation compared to the conventional amorphous silica supported counterpart."

For more information on this research see: Effects of mesoporous silica supports and alkaline promoters on activity of Pd catalysts in CO2 hydrogenation for methanol synthesis. Catalysis Today, 2012;194(1):16-24. Catalysis Today can be contacted at: Elsevier Science Bv, PO Box 211, 1000 Ae Amsterdam, Netherlands. (Elsevier - www.elsevier.com; Catalysis Today - www.elsevier.com/wps/product/cws_home/500857)

The news correspondents report that additional information may be obtained from N. Koizumi, Pennsylvania State University, Dept. of Chem Engn, University Park, PA 16802, United States (see also Nanoparticles).

Keywords for this news article include: Alcohols, Methanol, Pennsylvania, United States, Nanotechnology, University Park, Emerging Technologies, North and Central America

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