In-situ IR Spectroscopy Study of Reactions of C3 Oxygenates on Heteroatom (Sn, Mo, and W) doped BEA Zeolites and the Effect of Co-adsorbed Water

The reactions of acetone and hydroxyacetone over heteroatom doped BEA zeolites (Sn, Mo, and W) in the presence and absence of H2O vapor are investigated using infrared spectroscopy. Acetone is converted to mesityl oxide over Sn-BEA exclusively. At higher temperatures, larger oxygenates such as phorones, aromatics, and coke form. The presence of co-adsorbed water in Sn-BEA suppresses tautomerization. H2O vapor is also beneficial for minimizing coke formation at high temperatures. Hydroxyacetone is converted into 2-hydroxypropanal over Sn-BEA, exhibiting high affinity to Sn sites up to 400 degrees C. Sn-BEA catalyzes conversion of hydroxyacetone into the enol in the absence of H2O, but exposure to H2O induces the formation of 2-hydroxypropanal and subsequent conversion to acrolein. The Lewis acid descriptors are used to rationalize the reaction pathways. For the isomerization of hydroxyacetone into 2-hydroxypropanal, the hardness of acid sites influences the reaction and correlates with the overall Lewis acidity of the catalysts, respectively. However, the size of the exchanged metal significantly affects aldol condensation, where keto and enol forms of acetone adsorb to active sites simultaneously.

Automated summary

Reactions of acetone and hydroxyacetone over heteroatom doped BEA zeolites (Sn, Mo, and W) with and without H2O vapor were studied using infrared spectroscopy. It was found that H2O vapor is beneficial in reducing coke formation at high temperatures, and Sn-BEA plays a significant role in catalyzing the conversion of acetone and hydroxyacetone.