The Dynamic Nature of Brønsted Acid Sites in Cu-Zeolites During NOx Selective Catalytic
Reduction: Quantification by Gas-Phase Ammonia Titration
John R. Di Iorio, Shane A. Bates, Anuj A. Verma, W. Nicholas Delgass, Fabio H. Ribeiro,
Jeffrey T. Miller, Rajamani Gounder*
SUPPORTING INFORMATION
Section S.1. Atomic Absorption Spectrocopy of Catalyst Samples.
The total Si, Al, and Cu contents of each sample were determined using atomic
absorption spectroscopy (AAS) on a Perkin Elmer AAnalyst 300 Atomic Absorption
Spectrometer. Typically, 0.02 g of zeolite were dissolved in 2 g of hydrofluoric acid (48 wt%,
Alfa Aesar) and the solution was allowed to sit overnight, prior to dilution with 60 g of deionized
water. Absorbances were measured using radiation sources at wavelengths of 251.6 nm, 309.3
nm, and 324.8 nm for Si, Al, and Cu, respectively, in an acetylene/nitrous oxide flame.
Elemental compositions were determined from calibration curves derived from known standard
solutions, and are listed for each sample in Table S.1.
Section S.2. X-Ray Diffraction Characterization of Catalyst Samples.
Zeolite framework topologies were determined from powder X-ray diffraction (XRD)
patterns measured on a Rigaku SmartLab X-ray diffractometer with a Cu Kα radiation source
operated at 1.76 kW. Typically, 0.01 g of zeolite powder were loaded onto a zero background,
low dead volume sample holder (Rigaku) and the diffraction pattern was measured from 4–40°
2θ at a scan rate of 2.4° min-1. The resulting powder XRD patterns are shown in Figure S.1, and
were compared to a known reference material and to diffraction patterns for MFI (H-ZSM-5) and
CHA (H-SSZ-13) reported in the International Zeolite Association (IZA) structure database [1].
Table S.1. Elemental composition, and N2-derived BET surface areas and micropore volumes,
for all zeolite samples in this study [2].
Zeolite
H-ZSM-5
H-SSZ-13
Cu-ZSM-5
Cu-SSZ-13
a
CBV 2314
Measured BET
Surface Area
(m2 g-1)b
325
t-plot micropore
volume
(cm3 g-1)b
0.15
0
CBV 3024E
498
0.15
30
0
CBV 5524G
519
0.17
43
0
CBV 8014
425
0.13
89
0
CBV 1502
400
0.06
4.5
0
-
597
0.26
17
0.15
CBV 3024E
441
0.14
17
0.20
CBV 3024E
467
0.15
17
0.27
CBV 3024E
453
0.14
4.3
0.02
-
508
0.22
4.3
0.04
-
568
0.24
4.5
0.09
-
544
0.23
4.5
0.16
-
464
0.20
4.5
0.20
-
525
0.23
4.5
0.35
-
496
0.24
Si/Altota
Cu/Altota
Zeolyst Call
Number
12.5
0
17
Measured Si/Altot and Cu/Altot ratios were determined from atomic absorption spectroscopy.
The 90% confidence intervals for surface area and micropore volumes are ±51 m2 g-1 and ±0.01
cm3 g-1, respectively.
b
Figure S1. X-Ray diffraction patterns for (a) H-SSZ-13 (Si/Altot = 4.5) and H-ZSM-5 with
Si/Altot of (b) 12.5, (c) 17, (d) 30, (e) 43, and (f) 89.
Section S.3. N2 Adsorption Isotherms of Catalyst Samples.
Micropore volumes were determined from N2 adsorption isotherms measured at 77 K on
a Micromeritics ASAP 2020 Surface Area and Porosity Analyzer. Samples were first pelleted
and sieved to retain particles between 180-250 μm in diameter, degassed by heating 0.03–0.05 g
of sample to 393 K (0.167 K s-1) under high vacuum (~5 μmHg) for 2 h, and then further heated
to 623 K (0.167 K s-1) under high vacuum (~5 μmHg) for 8 h. Extrapolation of the linear
volumetric uptake during mesopore filling (~0.08–0.30 P/P0) to zero relative pressure gave an
estimate for the volume of adsorbed gas in micropores (cm3 g cat-1 at STP). These estimates
agreed with the micropore volume determined by analyzing the semi-log derivative plot of the
adsorption isotherm, ∂(Vads)/∂ (ln(P/P0)) vs. ln(P/P0). This analysis requires identifying the first
maximum of ∂(Vads)/∂(ln(P/P0)), which corresponds to the relative pressure at which the
micropore filling transition occurs, and then identifying the subsequent minimum that
corresponds to the end of micropore filling [3,4]. Micropore volumes were obtained by
converting adsorbed gas volumes (at STP) to liquid volumes assuming the liquid density of N 2 at
77 K, and are listed in Table S.1 along with BET surface areas. The H-ZSM-5 samples with
Si/Altot = 12.5, 17, 30, and 43 had micropore volumes between 0.13–0.17 cm3 g-1. The H-ZSM-5
with Si/Altot = 89, however, exhibited an abnormally low micropore volume of 0.06 cm3 g-1,
despite the similar XRD patterns among all ZSM-5 samples. Cu-ZSM-5 samples (Si/Altot = 17,
Cu/Altot = 0–0.27) gave micropore volumes between 0.14–0.15 cm3 g-1. The H-SSZ-13 (Si/Altot
= 4.5) sample had a micropore volume of 0.26 cm3 g-1 and the Cu-SSZ-13 (Si/Altot = 4.5,
Cu/Altot = 0–0.35) samples gave micropore volumes between 0.20–0.24 cm3 g-1.
Section S.4. 27Al Magic Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (27Al MAS NMR) on
H-ZSM-5 and H-SSZ-13 zeolites.
27
Al MAS NMR spectra were recorded on NH4-ZSM-5, H-ZSM-5, NH4-SSZ-13, and H-
SSZ-13 to estimate the fraction of framework (Alf) and extraframework Al (Alex) species present
in each material. Spectra of H-ZSM-5 samples were collected using a Bruker Avance 500 MHz
spectrometer in a wide-bore 11.7 Tesla magnet (Caltech Solid-State NMR Facility), and of HSSZ-13 were collected using a Chemagnetics CMX400 400 MHz spectrometer in a wide-bore
9.4 Tesla magnet (Purdue Interdepartmental NMR Facility), as described elsewhere [2]. Briefly,
spectra were acquired at ambient conditions from 456 scans with 12.5 μs pulses and a 2 s delay
and were measured at 104.24 MHz and a MAS rate of 5 kHz. Zeolite samples were hydrated by
holding for >48 h in a desiccator containing a saturated potassium chloride (KCl) solution prior
to packing in a 4mm ZrO2 rotor. All 27Al MAS NMR spectra are referenced to an aqueous 1.0M
Al(NO3)3 solution.
The
27
Al MAS NMR spectra for the ZSM-5 samples are shown in Figure S.2 and the
spectra for SSZ-13 are shown in Figure S.3. Tetrahedrally-coordinated Al atoms were
characterized by a lins centered around 55 ppm (52 ppm for ZSM-5 and 58 ppm for SSZ-13),
with a small shoulder representative of pentacoordinated Al [5-7]. The relative intensity of the
resonance at 52 ppm in H-ZSM-5 increased with increasing Al content (Fig. S.2). Octahedrallycoordinated Al atoms were characterized by a line centered at 0 ppm. The sum of the tertrahedral
and pentacoordinated Al were taken to reflect the total amount of Alf species present, while the
octahedrally-coordinated Al atoms were taken to reflect Alex species. The fraction of Al present
in tetrahedral coordination was estimated from the ratio of integrated areas for the 55 ppm line to
the total Al area, and is listed for each sample in Table S.2.
Small amounts of Alex species were observed in NMR spectra for H-ZSM-5 with Si/Altot
= 43 and 89, 6% and 7%, respectively, and the H-ZSM-5 with Si/Altot = 17, and 30 showed Alex
content of less than 2% (Fig. S.2). The NMR spectra of H-SSZ-13 showed a larger Alex
contribution of 15% (Fig. S.3). All NH4-ZSM-5 and NH4-SSZ-13 showed Alex content of less
than 2%. A small increase in the amount of Alex was observed in the H-form relative to the NH4form zeolite, which can be attributed to either irreversible removal of Alf species from the lattice
to form Alex or to the reversible change between tetrahedral (Alf) and octahedral (Alex)
coordination depending on the surrounding conditions [7-9].
Figure S.2. 27Al MAS NMR spectra for all H-ZSM-5 (dashed line) and NH4-ZSM-5 (solid line)
samples with Si/Altot = (a) 17, (b) 30, (c) 43, and (d) 89 [2].
Figure S.3. 27Al MAS NMR spectra for H-SSZ-13 (dashed line) and NH4-ZSM-5 (solid line)
samples with Si/Altot = 4.5 [2].
Table S.2. 27Al MAS NMR quantification results for H and NH4–form of the ZSM-5 (Si/Altot =
17, 30, 43, and 89) and SSZ-13 (Si/Altot = 4.5) samples [2].
Zeolite
ZSM-5
SSZ-13
a
b
Zeolyst Call
Number
CBV 3024E
Si/Altota
17
Alf/Altot for
NH4-formb
1.0
Alex/Altot for
NH4-form
0
Alf/Altot for
H-formb
0.99
Alex/Altot
for H-form
0.01
CBV 5524G
30
1.0
0
1.00
0.00
CBV 8014
43
1.0
0
0.94
0.06
CBV 1502
89
0.98
0.02
0.93
0.07
-
4.5
0.99
0.01
0.85
0.15
Measured Si/Altot ratios were determined from atomic absorption spectroscopy.
Alfr contains the sum of areas for the tetrahedral and pentacoordinated Al species.
Section S.5. Comparison of NH3 and n-propylamine titrations on ZSM-5 and SSZ-13
The number of H+ sites measured by NH3 titrations at 433 K, followed be purging in
flowing helium, and measured by n-propylamine (Table S.4, Section S.7) are listed in Table S.3,
and are plotted in Figure 3 of the manuscript.
Table S.3. Comparison of the H+/Altot ratios for zeolite samples measured by NH3 and npropylamine (NPA).
Zeolite
Si/Altot
Cu/Altot
a
H-ZSM-5
(Zeolyst)
H-SSZ-13
Cu-ZSM-5
(Zeolyst)
Cu-SSZ-13
17
30
43
89
4.5
17
17
17
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
4.5
0.15
0.20
0.27
0.02
0.04
0.09
0.16
0.20
0.35
NH3
(433 K, gas)
0.75
1.02
0.96
0.68
0.65
0.35
0.34
0.38
0.45
0.60
0.43
0.32
0.31
0.24
H+/Altot
NPA
(323 K, avg.)
0.79
0.99
1.01
0.69
0.17
0.43
0.32
0.34
0.06
0.07
0.04
0.04
0.02
0.002
H+NH3/H+NPA
0.99
1.00
0.94
0.93
3.82
0.81
1.08
1.13
7.32
8.44
11.27
7.95
15.31
164.92
a
NH3 saturation performed at 433 K with He purge.
n-Propylamine H+/Altot is the average of the H+/Altot determined from the decomposition
products (NH3 and C3H6) [2].
b
Section S.6. NH3 TPD profiles after saturation at 323 K
The NH3 TPD profiles for H-ZSM-5 (Si/Altot = 17) and H-SSZ-13 (Si/Altot = 4.5) are
shown in Figure S.4, after the samples were saturated with gas-phase NH3 at 323 K. The low
temperature peak centered at ~433 K corresponded to weakly-bound and Lewis acid-bound NH3,
while the high temperature peak at ~600 K corresponded to NH4+ bound to H+ sites [2].
Figure S.4. NH3 desorption rates during TPD of (a) H-ZSM-5 (Si/Altot = 43) and (b) H-SSZ-13
(Si/Altot = 4.5) after gas phase saturation with NH3 at 323 K [2].
Section S.7. n-Propylamine titrations of ZSM-5 and SSZ-13 zeolites
Alkylamine titrants of varying alkyl chain length (C1-C4) are often chosen to count H+
sites on solid acids, because although they adsorb onto both Brønsted and Lewis acid sites, they
decompose via Hoffman-type elimination reactions only on H+ sites to form NH3 and the
corresponding alkene (Scheme S.1) [10-13]. The adsorption of n-propylamine (~0.53 nm in
diameter [2]) on medium-pore H-ZSM-5 and Cu-ZSM-5 zeolites (~0.51 nm in diameter [14])
led to the evolution of equimolar amounts of NH3 and C3H6 during a subsequent TPD (Figure
S.5, Table S.4), as expected from the reactive decomposition of n-propylammonium ions at H+
sites. The numbers of NH3 and C3H6 species (per Altot) evolved via reactive n-propylamine
decomposition on H-ZSM-5 zeolites of varying Al content (Si/Altot = 17-89), and on Cu-ZSM-5
zeolites of varying Cu content (Si/Altot=17 Cu/Altot=0-0.27) are listed in Table S.4 [2]. For the
samples with Cu/Altot = 0.15 and 0.20, reactive n-propylamine decomposition detects two fewer
residual H+ sites per Cu (Table S.4), consistent with the exchange of each Cu2+ cation for two H+
sites. The number of residual H+ sites is similar for the samples with Cu/Altot = 0.20 and 0.27
(Table S.4), indicating that different Cu species may be present on the Cu/Altot = 0.27 sample.
Scheme S.1. n-Propylamine decomposes only on Brønsted acid sites to form NH3 and C3H6 [13].
Figure S.5. Desorption rates of reactive n-propylamine decomposition products NH3 (dark trace)
and C3H6 (light trace) during TPD of H-ZSM-5 (Si/Altot = 17) [2].
Table S.4. Number of H+ sites measured from the NH3 and C3H6 desorbed after n-propylamine
decomposition on H- and Cu-form zeolites. Data originally reported by Bates et al. [2].
Zeolite
Si/Altot
Cu/Altot
H+/Altot
Alf/Altota
H+/Alfb
NPA
NPA
(323 K, NH3)
(323 K, C3H6)
17
0.80
0.77
0.99
0.79
30
0.98
0.99
1.00
0.99
H-ZSM-5
43
1.06
0.95
0.94
1.06
89
0.71
0.67
0.93
0.74
17
0.15
0.40
0.46
0.43
Cu-ZSM-5
17
0.20
0.33
0.30
0.99
0.32
17
0.27
0.35
0.32
0.34
H-SSZ-13
4.5
0.16
0.18
0.85
0.20
4.5
0.02
0.06
0.06
0.07
4.5
0.04
0.08
0.08
0.09
4.5
0.09
0.04
0.03
0.04
Cu-SSZ-13
0.85
4.5
0.16
0.05
0.03
0.05
4.5
0.20
0.02
0.02
0.02
4.5
0.35
0.00
0.00
0.00
a
Alf/Altot values determined from 27Al MAS NMR and details can be found in Table S2 (Supporting Information).
b
H+/Alf is the average of the H+/Alf counts from NH3 and C3H6 desorption.
Section S.8. Ambient UV-Visible Spectroscopy of Cu-SSZ-13
Ambient UV-Visible-Near Infrared (UV–Vis–NIR) spectra measured using a diffuse
reflectance technique were collected on a Varian UV–Vis–NIR spectrophotometer (Cary 5000)
equipped with a Harrick-Scientific Praying-Mantis diffuse reflectance accessory (DRA). Barium
sulfate (BaSO4, 98 wt%, Sigma Aldrich) was used as a reference material when collecting
background scans. This material was sieved to a particle size of 125–250 μm before taking the
background scan. UV-Vis spectra were collected from 7000 cm-1 to 50,000 cm-1 at a scan speed
of 2000 cm-1 min-1. Cu-SSZ-13 samples were pretreated in 10% O2/N2 at 798 K elsewhere and
subsequently exposed to ambient conditions. This was done to ensure that these samples were
hydrated. Approximately 0.1 g of each sample was placed in the sample cup and spectral
measurements were taken. The peak observed at 12,500 cm-1 is the contribution from the d–d
transition of hydrated isolated Cu2+ ions [15,16]. The peaks between 30,000 cm-1 and 50,000 cm1
have been assigned to a convolution of different oxygen to Cu2+ charge transfer [15,16] and
bare zeolite absorption edge. The integrated spectra of the band at 12,500 cm-1 can be found
below in Fig. S.6. A linear increase in the integrated absorbance band area centered around
12,500 cm-1 was observed for increasing total Cu content (Cu/Altot) and is demonstrated by a best
fit trendline passing through the origin.
Figure S.6. Integrated area of the hydrated Cu(II) d-d transition absorbance band (12,500 cm-1)
measured by UV-Vis spectroscopy as a function of total Cu content (Cu/Altot). The dashed line
represents the best fit for a linear trendline through the origin.
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