Catalysts prepared by ion exchange of clinoptilolite-based natural zeolite tuffs with NH 4 + , Ba 2+ and Pb 2+ were investigated in the isomerization reaction of ␣-pinene at atmospheric pressure under nitrogen flow. Activity and selectivity to mono-, bi-and tricyclic products were correlated with acidity strength.

In this work, isomerization reaction of ␣-pinene was studied over several heat-treated natural zeolite catalysts, rich in clinoptilolite, from Balýkesir-Bigadic region in Turkey in a batch slurry reactor under nitrogen atmosphere. Zeolite samples were calcined at different temperatures such as 300, 450 and 600• C. All catalysts were tested in the isomerization reaction of ␣-pinene and were characterised by nitrogen adsorption experiments, IR, and XRD measurements. Acidity strength and the distribution of Lewis and Bronsted acid sites of the samples were determined. Selectivities to main reaction products, camphene and limonene, and reaction kinetics were investigated. Catalytic activity, that is total conversion of ␣-pinene, of heat-treated samples decreased with increasing calcination temperatures. Selectivity to limonene is dependent on ␣-pinene conversion at high conversion levels while the selectivity to camphene is not. The formation of heavy products increased with treatment temperature. It was seen that ␣-pinene consumption could be described by a first-order kinetics.

In this study, manganese(IV) oxide (MnO 2 ) nanoparticle (np)-modified glassy carbon paste electrode is used for ascorbic acid (AA) detection in fruit juice samples. The experimental parameters like MnO 2 np amount and pH were optimized by using modified full factorial design model. By means of this model, the number of experiments has been reduced. Under optimal conditions, the linear range for AA was obtained between 2.64×10 −6 and −1.5×10 −3 M. Limit of detection (LOD) (3 s/m) and relative standard deviation (RSD) were calculated as 8×10 −7 M and 4.56 %, respectively. Developed sensor was applied to AA detection in fruit juice samples.

The vapor-phase air oxidation of toluene to benzaldehyde over a Vz05 catalyst was investigated in an isothermal integral flow reactor a t atmospheric pressure between 350 and 480 "C. T h e effects of several variables, the feed ratio of oxygen to toluene, the reaction temperature, and the reciprocal of the space velocity, on the conversion and selectivity to benzaldehyde were determined. Nine different mechanisms were postulated and the rate expression TT = ( K 1 K g T 2 ) / ( K 1~T 2 + K2) fit the data best.

Coal gasification can generate hydrocarbon gases that may be utilized for the synthesis of chemicals or liquid fuels, or for fuel cell power generation, if extensive, deep syngas cleaning is first conducted. Conventional gas cleaning technology for this duty is expensive and may limit the feasibility of coal usage for such applications. The Siemens Westinghouse Power Corporation has proposed a novel scheme for polishing sulfur, halide, and particulate from gases to meet very stringent cleaning requirements for chemical synthesis, or for fuel cell power generation. This "Ultra-Clean" gas polishing process is a dry process, injecting fine sulfur and halide sorbent particles into two stages of barrier filter-reactors, or granular bed filter-reactors, to accomplished the gas polishing by dry sorbent adsorption of the contaminants. The sorbent materials for each stage, their feed rates, and the two stage temperatures must be specified to satisfy the gas cleaning requirements of any specific application, with the process having the potential for sulfur species less than 60 ppbv, halides less than 10 ppbv, and particulate less than 0.1 ppmw.The Base Program experimental activities described in this report have been completed to identify candidate sorbents and suitable operating conditions for each of the two stages of the Ultra-Clean process. The laboratory process simulation testing has identified a set of zinc-based and sodium-based, -325 mesh sorbents for each of the two stages that yield the performance potential for meeting the most stringent gas cleaning requirements. With these selected sorbents, the Stage I temperature is 499 C (930 F) and the Stage II temperature is 288 C (550 F).Conceptual commercial process evaluation of a novel gas cleaning process that utilizes the Ultra-Clean gas polishing process has been performed to devise potentially viable process details for two applications: a general chemical or liquid fuel synthesis application, and a solid oxide fuel cell power generation application. Commercial process performance and economics have been estimated for this novel gas cleaning process. The results indicate promising performance and economic potential compared to the conventional, Rectisol-based, gas cleaning technology. Sorbent maximum acceptable consumption criteria have been extracted from the commercial process evaluations and show that relatively high, once-through sorbent feed rates can be economically viable in the Ultra-Clean gas polishing process. The process can also incorporate ammonia removal and mercury removal. The next phase of the program will conduct integrated, bench-scale testing of the Ultra-Clean syngas polishing process on a sub-scale coal gasifier.iii