Dr Jae-Hun Yang

The isopropylation of naphthalene (NP) was carried out over a BEA zeolite (BEA38; SiO2/Al2O3 = 38) focused on the selectivities for diisopropylnaphthalene (DIPN) and triisopropylnaphthalene (TriIPN) isomers. The isopropylation gave possible eight DIPN isomers including ß,ß- (2,6- and 2,7-), a,ß- (1,3-, 1,6-, and 1,7-), and a,a- (1,4- and 1,5-). The catalysis over BEA works two types of controls: kinetic control operates to form predominantly bulky and unstable a,a-DIPN at low temperatures, and thermodynamic controls work for the predominant formation of the slim and stable ß,ß-DIPN at high temperatures, although the intermediately bulky and stable a,ß-DIPN are the major products through both controls. The enhanced selectivities for ß,ß-DIPN were observed at the early stages of the catalysis in the range of 200-300 °C, which operate under new type of thermodynamic control over fresh catalyst through thermodynamically preferred transition states; however, they decreased with the increase in the selectivities for a,a- and a,ß-DIPN, and converged after prolonged reaction period. The isopropylation of DIPN isomers gives TriIPN isomers: unstable and bulky 1,3,5- and 1,4,6-TriIPN with a,a,ß-substitution, and stable and slim 1,3,7- and 1,3,6-TriIPN with a,ß,ß-substitution. The low temperatures favor the former isomers, whereas the selectivity for the latter isomers increases with increasing reaction temperature. These results indicate that TriIPN isomers principally form under kinetic control at low temperatures, and thermodynamic controls participate in the catalysis at high temperatures. The selectivities for TriIPN isomers kept constant during the reaction at all temperatures: 200, 250, and 300 °C. The catalysis occurs inside the BEA channels and allow even the formation of bulky 1,3,5- and 1,4,6-TriIPN; however, all isomers cannot be isomerized to the others in the channels and on the external surfaces. Severe coke-deposition occurred during the catalysis, particularly in the early stages; however, the catalyst is recovered by the calcination with a small change in catalytic activity.

Toluene is an aromatic pollutant that can be widely found in many industries. Due to its toxicity, its total decomposition has been investigated by many researchers using various ways. One alternative way is the usage of catalyst and light to decompose toluene. However, so far, it is still remained as a challenge. On the other hand, the need to use cheap, abundant, and safe sources to prevent our sustainability makes the utilization of solar energy one of the ideal solutions for our problems. As visible light is the main part of our solar energy, the development of photocatalysts that able to work under visible light irradiation is highly required. One of the efforts to realize it is by designing materials that able to absorb visible light especially that of longer wavelength, such as up to 600 nm. A red color-material, Tantalum (V) nitride (Ta3N5) is one such potential photocatalyst. Its photocatalytic activity was discovered for water splitting reaction under visible light irradiation [1]. Recent progress reported that Ta 3N5 nanoparticles showed higher activity than the bulk Ta3N5 for hydrogen evolution [2] and methylene blue degradation [3]. ©2010 IEEE.