As the conversion of methanol to olefins (MTO) over a zeolite catalyst is conducted on acid sites derived from framework aluminum (AlF), it is possible to enhance the catalytic performance by altering the siting of AlF if one knows the catalytic behavior of specified AlF located at certain sites. In this work, two series of H-ZSM-5 zeolites, viz., S-HZ-m and T-HZ-m, were synthesized with silica sol and tetraethyl orthosilicate, respectively, as the silicon source. Both series of H-ZSM-5 zeolites exhibit similar acidity, morphology, and textual properties. However, they are quite different with respect to AlF siting, as determined by UV–vis–DRS of Co­(II) ions and 27Al MAS NMR; AlF of S-HZ-m is enriched in the sinusoidal and straight channels, whereas AlF of T-HZ-m is concentrated in the channel intersections. When they are used as the catalyst in MTO, T-HZ-m gives higher selectivity to ethene and aromatics and a larger hydrogen transfer index (HTI) than S-HZ-m, whereas S-HZ-m exhibits higher selectivity to propene and higher olefins. Moreover, the 13C/12C-methanol-switching experiments indicate that the incorporation of 12C into pentamethylbenzene and hexamethylbenzene is faster on T-HZ-m, whereas the scramble of 12C for C3–C5 olefins is speedier on S-HZ-m. All of these illustrate that AlF in the channel intersections of H-ZSM-5 is probably more favorable to the propagation of the aromatic-based cycle, whereas AlF in the sinusoidal and straight channels is more encouraging for the alkene-based cycle. These results help to clarify the catalytic behavior of given framework acid sites of H-ZSM-5 in MTO and then bring forward an effective approach to improving the catalytic performance by regulating the framework aluminum siting.

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As the process of methanol to hydrocarbons (MTH) is catalyzed by acid sites, the regulation of framework aluminum siting and acid distribution in a zeolite catalyst to enhance its performance in MTH is an important and challenging task. In this work, the regulation of framework aluminum siting in H-MCM-22 was achieved through boron incorporation; the relation between catalytic performance and acid distribution was investigated. The results illustrate that the distribution of framework aluminum and Bronsted acid sites among three types of pores in H-MCM-22 can be regulated through adjusting the content of boron incorporated during synthesis, due to the competitive occupancy of various framework T sites between boron and aluminum, whereas the textural properties and overall acid types and amounts are less influenced by boron incorporation. Incorporating a proper content of boron can concentrate the Bronsted acid sites in the sinusoidal channels rather than in the surface pockets and supercages. The acid sites located in the surface pockets and supercages are prone to carbonaceous deposition, whereas those acid sites in the sinusoidal channels are crucial for MTH in the steady reaction stage. Moreover, the acid sites in the sinusoidal channels are favorable to the olefin-based cycle that produces preferentially higher olefins. As a result, the incorporation of proper content of boron delivers the H-MCM-22 zeolite much greater stability and higher selectivity to higher olefins such as propene and butene in MTH than previously reported. These results help to clarify the relation between the catalytic performance of H-MCM-22 in MTH and its acid distribution and then bring forward an effective approach to develop better MTH catalysts by regulating the acid distribution.

Polymethylbenzene (polyMB) and alkene cycles are considered as two main routes forming light olefins in the process of methanol to olefins (MTO); however, the contribution that each cycle makes to MTO is still unclear. In this work, density functional theory considering dispersive interactions (DFT-D) was used to elucidate the catalytic roles that the polyMB and the alkene cycles may play in forming ethene and propene from methanol in MTO over H-ZSM-5. The results demonstrated that ethene and propene can be produced in nearly the same probability via the polyMB cycle, as they have a very close free energy height as well as a similar free energy barrier for the rate-determining steps. Via the alkene cycle, however, propene is the dominant product, because the methylation and cracking steps to get propene have a much lower free energy barrier in comparison with those to form ethene. As a result, ethene is predominantly formed via the polyMB cycle, whereas propene is produced via both the polyMB and the alkene cycles. The contribution of the alkene cycle is probably larger than that of the polyMB cycle, resulting in a high fraction of propene in the MTO products. Meanwhile, both cycles are interdependent in MTO, as the aromatic species generated by aromatization via the alkene cycle can also serve as new active centers for the polyMB cycle, and vice versa. Moreover, the catalytic activity of H-ZSM-5 zeolite is directly related to its acid strength; weaker acid sites are unfavorable for the polyMB cycle and then enhance relatively the contribution of the alkene cycle to forming light olefins. These results can well interpret the recent experimental observations, and the theoretical insights shown in this work may improve our understanding of the MTO mechanism, which are conducive to developing better MTO catalysts and reaction processes.

ZSM-5 and ZSM-11 zeolites are similar in their crystalline framework structure, acidity, morphology, and textual properties but considerably different in their catalytic performance for conversion of methanol to olefins (MTO). Such an unexpected but exciting finding was extensively explored by various techniques and density functional theory calculations. A detailed investigation shows that it is the different Al distribution in the ZSM-5 and ZSM-11 framework that causes the significant difference in MTO catalytic performance. In ZSM-5, Al atoms are enriched in the intersection, whereas in ZSM-11, the Al atoms are concentrated in the straight 10-membered ring channel. The acid sites located in the intersection enhance the arene-based cycle that generates more ethene, alkanes, and aromatics. Nevertheless, these hydrocarbon molecules can easily diffuse out of the zeolite channel, hence retarding the deposition of carbonaceous materials and increasing catalytic stability. However, the acid sites located in the straight channel promote the alkene-based cycle, thus preferentially generating higher olefins that could transform into aromatics and carbon precursors that have difficulty in diffusing out of ZSM-11. The fast accumulation of coke species leads to its short catalytic lifetime. Via a shift of the Al atoms of ZSM-11 from the straight channel to the intersection by incorporation of appropriate amounts of B or alteration of silica and alumina sources and addition of sodium cations, its MTO catalytic performance (activity, selectivity, and stability) becomes highly comparable to that of ZSM-5. The insights attained in this work not only help to clarify the relationship of Al siting in zeolite with its MTO catalytic performance but also provide a cue for improving the catalytic properties of zeolites by regulating the sitings of active sites in lattice sites.

Methods to synthesize zeolites with different crystal habits and assemble zeolite crystals into specific structures are reviewed for the rational design of zeolite particle morphologies.

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Direct conversion of syngas into light olefins over bifunctional catalysts has made significant progress; the C 2 = −C 4= selectivity in hydrocarbons reaches >80%. Nevertheless, a relatively harsh reaction condition (>380 °C, 1.0 MPa) led to producing large amounts of CO 2 (>40%) and gave a low olefin/ paraffin (O/P) ratio (<10) as a result of significant promotion of water−gas shift (WGS) reaction and overhydrogenation of olefins. In this context, attempts are made here to develop a highly active lowtemperature composite catalyst. It was found that a zinc−cerium−zirconium solid solution (Zn x Ce 2−y Zr y O 4 ) and a SAPO-34 mixture showed CO conversion, light olefin selectivity in hydrocarbons, and O/P ratios of about 7%, 83%, and 23, respectively, at 300 °C and 1 atm. More interestingly, this catalyst showed CH 4 selectivity and CO 2 emission lower than 5 and 6%, respectively. A combination of experimental, in situ spectroscopy, and theoretical calculation results reveals that doping Ce in Zn x Zr 2.0 O 4 greatly inhibits the WGS reaction by increasing the formation energy barrier of carboxylate intermediate species, but increases surface oxygen vacancy concentration of the composite through formation of a solid solution, and as a consequence, improving the catalytic activity for conversion of syngas at mild conditions by enhancing the interaction of CO with the catalyst, which elongates the C−O bond of the HCO* species.