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Ethylene Epoxidation in AC Dielectric Barrier Discharge Over Silver-Based Catalysts with Different Second Metals

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Abstract

This work was to investigate the effects of Ag-based catalysts and the addition of a second metal (Sn or Cu) loaded on an 0.1% wt% Ag catalyst on the ethylene epoxidation performance in a low-temperature and atmospheric pressure parallel plate dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) system with two frosted-glass plates and a separate N2O/C2H4 feed. The combined catalyst-DBD system with the 0.1 wt% Ag catalyst was found to provide significantly higher ethylene oxide (EO) selectivity, as compared to the sole DBD system, due to the additional surface reactions on the boundary area between the Ag active sites and silica support. The addition of the second metal (Sn or Cu) on the 0.1 wt% Ag catalyst substantially improved the EO selectivity, by reducing Ag particle sintering for Sn and increasing in the stability of oxometallacycle intermediates with high activation barriers for the formation of other products, causing an increased selectivity towards EO formation for Cu.

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Acknowledgements

This research was financially supported by the King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok (KMUTNB-61-KNOW-003) and Thailand Research Fund (Grant MRG6180241). The Petroleum and Petrochemical College and the Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Thailand are also acknowledged.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. The Petroleum and Petrochemical College, Chulalongkorn University, Soi Chula 12, Phyathai Road, Pathumwan, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Sumaeth Chavadej

  2. Center of Excellence on Petrochemical and Materials Technology, Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, 10330, Thailand

    Sumaeth Chavadej

  3. Division of Chemical Process Engineering Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Technology, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Rayong Campus, Rayong, 21120, Thailand

    Thitiporn Suttikul

  4. Research Center for Circular Products and Energy, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Bangkok, 10800, Thailand

    Thitiporn Suttikul

  5. The Plasma and Automatic Electric Technology Research Group, King Mongkut’s University of Technology North Bangkok, Rayong Campus, Rayong, 21120, Thailand

    Thitiporn Suttikul

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Chavadej, S., Suttikul, T. Ethylene Epoxidation in AC Dielectric Barrier Discharge Over Silver-Based Catalysts with Different Second Metals. Plasma Chem Plasma Process 41, 265–288 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11090-020-10141-8

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