The stability of Pd/TS-1 and Pd/silicalite-1 catalysts was assessed at 400 °C and an approximate relative humidity (RH) of 80% for catalytic combustion of fugitive methane emissions, aiming to understand the role of titanium in the stability of the catalysts.

Catalytic combustion of ventilation air methane (VAM) is a potential solution for abatement of this greenhouse gas. In this study, we evaluate the combustion of VAM (with methane concentrations below 1%) spanning over 100 h time on stream (TOS) during reaction over a Pd/HZSM-5 catalyst. The aim is to understand the structural changes that lead to catalyst deactivation. We observe the formation of carbonaceous deposits even under oxygen-rich conditions, which are an important contributor to deactivation. X-ray absorption spectroscopic (XAS) investigation shows that, in addition to carbon deposits, the growth of Pd oxide clusters leads to a reduced number of accessible sites and in turn intrinsic activity. STEM-EDS analysis disclosed the presence of the carbonaceous deposit on the surface of the used catalyst, and TGA confirmed the presence of different carbon species on the used catalyst under very lean conditions. Structural changes show that Pd–O/acid–base interactions have a significant influence on the structure of the active site. This assertion is consistent with findings from acid–base characterization experiments. Although the catalyst displayed a high level of stability over the first 10 h of VAM combustion, long-term reaction, in the presence of water vapor, is associated with partial rearrangement of the zeolite, accompanied by a gradual deactivation of the catalyst. This rearrangement is associated with a decrease in surface area and pore volume, which is consistent with the significant changes observed in the Al-X-ray absorption near-edge spectroscopic (XANES) analysis. A comparison of the NH3-TPD of fresh and used Pd/HZSM-5 catalysts shows that the strengths of the acid sites are significantly reduced. This is a consequence of the changing nature of transition metal interaction with the zeolite, which is accompanied by the dealumination of the zeolite support, thereby enhancing Pd agglomeration and the emergence of two low index surface orientation facet planes identified as PdO(101) and PdO(100). A higher turnover frequency (TOF) (0.031 s–1) for reactivated Pd/HZSM-5 after removing all carbonaceous material compared to the TOF (0.024 s–1) for used Pd/HZSM-5 was observed. The catalyst regained 75% of its initial catalytic activity after removing carbonaceous compound from the used catalyst. We propose the formation of a palladium carbonaceous complex manifesting itself in carbonate and a carbonyl group observed in used Pd/HZSM-5. These species act as an important contributor to catalyst deactivation and cause partial reversible deactivation during long-term VAM combustion.

Theranostic platforms bring about a revolution in disease management. During recent years, theranostic nanoparticles have been utilized for imaging and therapy simultaneously. Among different classes of biomaterials, zeolites have proven to be highly efficient for theranostic applications.

A novel Pd supported on TS-1 combustion catalyst was synthesized and tested in methane combustion under very lean and under highly humid conditions (<1%). A notable increase in hydrothermal stability was observed over 1900 h time-on-stream experiments, where an almost constant, steady state activity obtaining 90% methane conversion was achieved below 500 °C. Surface oxygen mobility and coverage plays a major role in the activity and stability of the lean methane combustion in the presence of large excess of water vapour. We identified water adsorption and in turn the hydrophobicity of the catalyst support as the major factor influencing the long term stability of combustion catalysts. While Pd/Al2O3 catalyst shows a higher turn-over frequency than that of Pd/TS-1 catalyst, the situation reversed after ca. 1900 h on stream. Two linear regions, with different activation energies in the Arrhenius plot for the equilibrium Pd/TS-1 catalyst, were observed. The conclusions were supported by catalyst characterization using H2-chemisorption, TPD, XPS analyses as well as N2-adsorption-desorption, XRD, SEM, TEM. The hydrophobicity and competitive adsorption of water with oxygen is suggested to influence oxygen surface coverage and in turn the apparent activation energy for the oxidation reaction.