Adsorbent catalytic nanoparticles and methods of using the same
AssigneeIowa State University Research Foundation, Inc.
InventorsIgor Ivan Slowing, Kapil Kandel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The present invention provides an adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle including a mesoporous silica nanoparticle having at least one adsorbent functional group bound thereto. The adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle also includes at least one catalytic material. In various embodiments, the present invention provides methods of using and making the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticles. In some examples, the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticles can be used to selectively remove fatty acids from feedstocks for biodiesel, and to hydrotreat the separated fatty acids.
Claims20
An adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle comprising:
- at least one adsorbent functional group selected from the group consisting of an amino(C1-C20)alkyl group or a salt thereof, a (C1-C20)alkyl carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof, a (C1-C20)alkyl sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, and a perfluoro(C1-C20)alkyl group, wherein the alkyl unit of the aminoalkyl group, the alkyl carboxylic acid group, the alkyl sulfonic acid group, and of the perfluoroalkyl group is covalently bound to a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, and wherein the C1-C20 alkyl groups of the amino(C1-C20)alkyl group are independently optionally interrupted by one or two —NH— groups;
- and
- at least one catalytic material.
A method comprising:
- combining at least one adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle with a free fatty acid, to provide a mixture, the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle comprising
- at least one adsorbent functional group selected from the group consisting of an amino(C1-C20)alkyl group or a salt thereof, a (C1-C20)alkyl carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof, a (C1-C20)alkyl sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, and a perfluoro(C1-C20)alkyl group, wherein the alkyl unit of the aminoalkyl group, the alkyl carboxylic acid group, the alkyl sulfonic acid group, and of the perfluoroalkyl group is covalently bound to a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, and wherein the C1-C20 alkyl groups of the amino(C1-C20)alkyl group are independently optionally interrupted by one or two —NH— groups;
- and
- at least one catalytic material;
- and
- combining the mixture with hydrogen gas under conditions so that the catalytic material at least one of cracks, decarboxylates, and hydrodeoxygenates at least some of the free fatty acid.
A method comprising:
- combining at least one adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle with a solution comprising a free fatty acid and at least one of a fatty acid ester and a triglyceride, to provide a mixture, the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle comprising
- at least one adsorbent functional group selected from the group consisting of an amino(C1-C20)alkyl group or a salt thereof, a (C1-C20)alkyl carboxylic acid group or a salt thereof, a (C1-C20)alkyl sulfonic acid group or a salt thereof, and a perfluoro(C1-C20)alkyl group, wherein the alkyl unit of the aminoalkyl group, the alkyl carboxylic acid group, the alkyl sulfonic acid group, and of the perfluoroalkyl group is covalently bound to a mesoporous silica nanoparticle, and wherein the C1-C20 alkyl groups of the amino(C1-C20)alkyl group are independently optionally interrupted by one or two —NH— groups;
- and
- at least one catalytic material;
- separating the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle having the first molecule adsorbed thereto from the mixture;
- and
- combining the separated adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle with hydrogen gas so that the catalytic material in the adsorbent catalytic nanoparticle catalyzes a chemical transformation of the fatty acid comprising at least one of cracking, decarboxylation, and hydrodeoxygenation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.