Active sites of Cu-ZSM-5 for the decomposition of acrylonitrile

The catalytic decomposition of acrylonitrile (AN) over Cu-ZSM-5 prepared with various Cu loadings was investigated. AN conversion, during which the nitrogen atoms in AN were mainly converted to N2, increased as Cu loading increased. N2 selectivities as high as 90-95% were attained. X-ray diffraction measurements (XRD) and temperature-programmed reduction by H2 (H2-TPR) showed the existence of bulk CuO in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 6.4 wt% and the existence of highly dispersed CuO in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 3.3 wt%. Electron spin resonance measurements revealed that Cu-ZSM-5 contains three forms of isolated Cu2+ ions (square-planar, square-pyramidal, and distorted square-pyramidal). The H2-TPR results suggested that in Cu-ZSM-5 with a Cu loading of 2.9 wt% and below, Cu+ existed even after oxidizing pretreatment. The activity of AN decomposition over Cu/SiO2 suggested that CuO could form N2, but, independent of the CuO dispersion, nitrogen oxides (NOx) were formed above 350 °C. Cu+ and the square-pyramidal and distorted square-pyramidal forms of Cu2+ showed low activity for AN decomposition. Temperature-programmed desorption of NH3 suggested that N2 formation from NH3 proceeded on Cu2+, resulting in the formation of Cu+. The Cu+ ions were oxidized to Cu2+ at around 300 °C. Thus, high N2 selectivity over Cu-ZSM-5 with a wide range of temperature was probably attained by the reaction over the square-planar Cu2+, which can be reversibly reduced and oxidized.