Articles tagged with Zeolites
Researchers from the University of Houston and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory are investigating what causes nuclear waste glass to dissolve over time. They found that zeolite crystals facilitate faster dissolution, and are exploring ways to slow or impede their formation.
A University of Houston engineer is leading a $800,000 project to improve the safety of storage containers for nuclear waste. The team will explore ways to reduce or avoid the degeneration of glass containers used to store radioactive waste.
Researchers discovered that only small clusters of four silver atoms in a tetrahedral shape surrounded by water molecules emit light. This is due to the movement of two free electrons, which decay from higher to lower energy levels and produce a specific shade of green light.
Researchers at EPFL developed a computational method to grow 2D carbon surfaces inside zeolite pores. The resulting structures resemble negatively curved surfaces called Schwarzites, which have unique properties and potential applications in supercapacitors, catalysis, and gas storage.
Scientists at UC Berkeley have discovered a long-sought carbon structure called schwarzite, which has unique electronic, magnetic, and optical properties. The negatively curved schwarzites were formed inside zeolite pores and have potential applications in supercapacitors, battery electrodes, and gas storage.
Recently developed nanosized and hierarchical SAPO-34 catalysts show significant advantages in the MTO process, enhancing mass transfer and decreasing coke formation. The review summarizes state-of-the-art synthesis strategies for these catalysts.
Researchers at TUM have created a new process to convert organic waste into fuel, utilizing zeolite catalysts that reduce temperatures and energy requirements. The process takes place in confined spaces inside zeolite crystals, increasing reaction rates by up to 100 times.
A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota has developed a new process for creating ultra-thin layers of material with molecular-sized pores, enabling ultra-selective membranes for chemical separations. The discovery could greatly improve energy-efficiency in the chemical and petrochemical industries.
The IBS team developed a novel approach to synthesize carbon nanostructures by embedding lanthanum ions in zeolite pores, resulting in graphene-like materials with high electrical conductivity. This efficient synthesis strategy enables the scalable production of carbon nanostructures for various applications.
Researchers have created stable silver clusters within zeolite frameworks, maintaining their unique optical properties. This breakthrough has great potential for the development of more efficient and affordable fluorescent and LED lighting.
Scientists at Queen Mary University of London developed a new lighting material using silver, which can emit light with high efficiency and is cheap to produce.
Researchers have developed a new approach to convert methane into methanol using copper-containing silicon aluminum compounds as catalysts at constant temperatures and high pressures. This process can potentially reduce the energy waste associated with current industrial methods.
A UMass Amherst chemist has received a $330,000 NSF grant to improve the production of fuels from plant biomass. The project aims to optimize shape-selective catalysis in zeolites for efficient conversion of carbohydrates into gasoline.
Researchers at ORNL discovered a new mechanism for converting bio-based ethanol into hydrocarbon blend-stocks, eliminating an energy-consuming intermediary step. This breakthrough could support the economic viability of direct biofuel-to-hydrocarbon conversion technologies.
A Franco-Swiss research team has proposed a new explanation for the starting mechanism of the MTO process. They found that alumina, present in zeolites, can transform methanol into ethylene and other hydrocarbons, which can then be converted into carbenium ions. This discovery sheds light on how the MTO process begins.
PNNL scientists explore molecular hydrogen storage, catalyst development using abundant metals, and the connection between plants and pollution producing aerosols. Their research aims to improve renewable energy efficiency and reduce pollution.
A new family of chemical structures, known as zeolites, have been created by an international team of researchers to separate out carbon dioxide more effectively from fuel gases. These complex structures show rapid and selective uptake of CO2, a key step in carbon capture and storage strategies.
Researchers at KU Leuven have developed a method to produce bioplastics, such as polylactic acid (PLA), more efficiently and with less waste. This breakthrough could lead to cheaper and more sustainable production of biodegradable plastics.
Researchers used atom probe tomography to create the first 3-D atomic map of an industrially relevant zeolite material, revealing clues to extending catalyst life. The study found that steaming causes aluminum atoms to cluster, shutting down the catalytic factory and affecting its efficiency.
A new bio-inspired zeolite catalyst converts methane to methanol with high efficiency and selectivity, enabling small-scale 'gas-to-liquid' technologies. The catalyst's trinuclear copper-oxo-cluster active center is stabilized in the zeolite micropores.
A team of researchers at the University of Minnesota discovered potential materials that could improve ethanol and petroleum production, reducing multi-step processes and costs. The study identified all-silica zeolites with superior performance for separating ethanol from water and upgrading petroleum compounds into higher-value products.
Yushan Yan's research team has developed a method to create crystalline porous polymers with large pores and excellent thermal stability. These materials have potential applications in catalysis, separations and energy storage, offering new possibilities for the chemical and petroleum industries.
Researchers from ETH Zurich have identified a new class of zeolite catalysts that can withstand the formation of hydrocarbon deposits, which clog pores and block active sites. The key to their improved performance lies in the internal structure of the catalysts, with well-connected nano-sized channels and numerous openings.
UH researchers found conclusive evidence of how silicalite-1 zeolites grow, involving nanoparticle attachment and molecular addition. This breakthrough technique allows for real-time observation of surface growth.
A new computational method at Rice University accurately predicts the adsorption of gases by porous zeolites, enabling labs to screen potential materials before expensive experiments. The method could aid in developing fuels that meet Department of Energy standards and improve zeolite properties.
Researchers are developing a new class of molecules called peptoids that can alter zeolite growth, changing the shape of these crystals from cylinders to flat platelets. This improvement will significantly extend the lifetime of catalysts, enabling companies to carry out processes more efficiently and at lower costs.
Researchers at Rice University have created an 'artificial nose' that can detect dangerous fumes from solvents by trapping metallic compounds inside zeolite cages. The technology uses a 'ship in a bottle' type of chemical assembly, with each gas having a unique photoluminescent fingerprint.
Researchers at DOE's Pacific Northwest National Laboratory discovered a new zeolite catalyst that breaks down nitric oxide into water and atmospheric nitrogen, reducing pollution. The catalyst uses copper as its added metal and takes an unusual side-on approach to binding with nitric oxide.
Researchers at the University of Cambridge developed a biofertiliser that enables crops to be grown on coal waste, achieving nearly twice the weight and yield of those grown in garden soil. The additive boosts plant nutrition, regulates water, and maintains an ideal environment for growth.
Scientists at Twente University successfully created one-dimensional molecular wires with near-zero electrical conductivity when exposed to a weak magnetic field. The phenomenon is attributed to the Pauli exclusion principle and has potential applications in smartphone technology and hard disk read heads.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a computational method to tailor the properties of zeolites, a crucial step in producing industrial minerals. The method uses organic structure directing agents (OSDAs) to guide the growth of zeolite crystals and can potentially produce new types of zeolites.
A computational study discovered several zeolite structures with sufficient methane sorption capacity and selectivity for effective capture. The most promising candidate, SBN, has an extraordinarily high performance for concentrating methane from low-quality natural gas and coal-mine ventilation air.
Scientists at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory have discovered new materials capable of capturing methane with high efficiency. The research focused on two applications: concentrating medium-purity methane streams and dilute streams above methane's flammability limit.
The University of Houston Cullen College of Engineering has won its sixth NSF Faculty Early Career Development Award, with assistant professor Jeffrey Rimer receiving a $400,000 grant to further his research on zeolites. The award aims to develop a rational system for creating molecules that can tailor the growth of specific zeolites.
Researchers have identified dozens of zeolite minerals that can improve the energy efficiency of carbon capture technology, reducing 'parasitic energy' costs by up to 30%. The new materials could significantly enhance the feasibility of capturing CO2 from power plant emissions and storing it underground.
Researchers have discovered a new porous zeolite material that can convert gasoline directly into diesel, offering a potential solution to the growing demand for diesel. The ITQ-39 material has complex atomic structure and channels of varying size and shape, enabling efficient conversion.
Michael Deem, a computational theorist, is being honored with the engineering award for fundamental theoretical work on vaccine design, mathematical biology, and nanoporous materials structure. His research has led to breakthroughs in understanding immunology, evolution, and materials science.
Researchers have discovered a novel route for synthesizing EMT zeolites with large pores at near ambient temperature and low pressure. This approach avoids the use of expensive templates, enabling potential industrial applications in catalysis and adsorption.
Scientists studied how fluids travel through nanoscale channels and found that methyl alcohol diffused much faster in one direction due to the shape of the pores. The discovery has far-reaching implications for novel microscopic materials, including nanotubes and drug delivery systems.
Researchers at the University of Minnesota have developed a new type of molecular sieve that can speed up filtration processes and reduce energy consumption. The breakthrough uses ultra-thin zeolite nanosheets to create more efficient separation membranes, promising cost savings in fuel and plastics production.
Researchers at Rice University have developed a database of 2.6 million possible zeolite structures, which could improve catalytic applications and enable the discovery of new materials with unique properties. The database was created using computational methods and has been made publicly available.
A University of California, Riverside researcher is leading a $6.25 million grant to develop fuel cells that could replace batteries with up to 80% less weight and increase device life by five times.
Researchers at Berkeley Lab developed a molecular worm algorithm to automatically analyze structures, speeding up material screening. The algorithm provides a realistic depiction of molecule geometry, allowing for more accurate predictions of catalysis and chemical reactions.
A Rice University lab has discovered over 2.7 million possible structures for molecular sieves, also known as zeolites, which have potential applications in industries such as gasoline production and laundry detergents.
Researchers from the Technical University of Munich are developing a new brewing process that uses zeolite storage systems to add heat and reduce energy consumption. The system aims to save up to 20% in energy costs, making it a more sustainable option for breweries.
Researchers have developed a new technique to eliminate grain boundary defects in zeolite membranes, significantly improving their ability to separate molecules. By subjecting the membranes to rapid thermal processing (RTP), the defects are eliminated, allowing the membranes to achieve greater yield and energy efficiency.
Researchers developed a rapid heating treatment called Rapid Thermal Processing (RTP) to remove structural defects in zeolite membranes, improving their performance and separation efficiency. This breakthrough could significantly increase the energy efficiency of chemical separations and enable higher production rates.
Physicist Michael Deem uses supercomputers and disused desktop PCs to catalog mineral designs, creating a database of over 3.4 million zeolite structures. This effort could lead to more efficient catalysts for chemical reactions.
Scientists at ESRF have made significant progress in understanding zeolite synthesis by monitoring the process in real-time. They found that molecular organization occurs before crystallization, leading to more efficient catalysts.
Researchers have discovered how certain zeolites form, enabling targeted methods to create crystals with precise sizes and shapes. The study reveals a step-by-step process, including silicon-oxygen nanoparticles forming first, which can be used to develop tailored designs for specific applications.
A team of researchers has made a breakthrough in creating perfect glass by monitoring the structure changes of zeolites when heated. The resulting glass is stronger and more resistant than traditional glass, with potential applications in making glass invulnerable to water and reducing breakage.
Researchers found widespread zeolites across Yucca Mountain, abundant at a depth considered ideal for waste storage. A combination of man-made safeguards and natural features is necessary to prevent waste migration.
The Office of Naval Research has developed a chest-mounted air-conditioning system that can cool an aviator's body by up to 10 degrees Centigrade. The system uses zeolite to absorb heat and is designed to be lightweight, compact, and independent of aircraft power.
The discovery of organic zeolites with functionalized methyl and methylene groups marks a significant step forward in creating catalysts that mimic enzymes. The incorporation of these organic materials into the structure of silicate-based zeolites could promote novel reactions with improved selectivity.
Dutch chemists Ries Janssen and colleagues have visualized the porous structure of a zeolite catalyst and found that about a quarter of canals are closed cavities. They developed two methods to create better canals, using carbon powder and carbon fibers as templates, resulting in improved accessibility and structure.
New porous materials show photoluminescence, ion exchange and gas sorption, having large surface area and uniform pore sizes. They have potential applications in electrochemical sensors, photocatalysts, solid electrolytes for batteries and gas separation.
Jeneene Sams, a NASA space product manager, works with companies to conduct experiments in space that improve their products and ultimately people's lives. She sponsors two commercial experiments: one on growing zeolite crystals that can store hydrogen, a pollution-free fuel, and another testing a fire-fighting system in microgravity.
Researchers at the University of Illinois have created a new class of materials that can bind water faster and more strongly than best drying agents, with a higher capacity for storing water. The material also exhibits shape selectivity, allowing only specific molecules to enter its structure.
Researchers found that treated zeolite filters were effective in removing viruses and bacteria from drinking water, achieving 99% virus removal rates. The study suggests using zeolite filters as a low-cost solution for controlling the spread of diseases through contaminated wells.
Researchers have created a zeolite material that expands when subjected to increasing pressure, allowing it to trap larger molecules and pollutants. This unusual property has potential applications in controlling chemical or radioactive pollutants by locking them inside the expanded pores.